Learning and Development Manager

Job Title: Learning and Development Manager

Reports To: Director of Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Location: As a remote-first organization, employees are expected to primarily work within reasonable driving commute to our main office locations (Roseville CA, Atlanta GA, Phoenix AZ, and Oklahoma City, OK) to meet the requirements of team gatherings, one-off meetings, and company-wide events, as well as the legal, tax, and security regulations based on our business operations.

Note: Expected to regularly report to the office biweekly. Additional in-office attendance may be required, periodically, to conduct or oversee in-person training events. 

Come Join Us:

The Larkin Company specializes in innovative and customized solutions for clients who value a personalized, employee-centric approach to absence management. Not only do we administer employee leaves of absence, but we also design and implement self-insured disability benefit plans (including self-insured California State Disability Insurance). In addition, we administer accommodations for the American Disabilities Act (ADA). We believe that each client and each employee of our clients is unique, and we strive to provide personalized customer support. We will always think like the small company we started as, using technology to improve our processes and our productivity, but never in a manner that keeps us from direct contact with our clients and their employees. 

Job Summary: 

The Learning & Development Manager is a strategic leader responsible for the vision and execution of our organizational training and learning programs. This role will design and implement a progressive training approach that utilizes data, layers on complexity, and leverages emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to deliver scalable and impactful learning experiences. The Learning & Development Manager will lead a high-performing team, drive cross-functional collaboration, and ensure that our training programs are a key enabler of operational excellence, product readiness, and business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Training Strategy & Design:

• Develop and implement a training curriculum that take complex concepts and break them down into layered, sequential learning paths, ensuring a clear and logical progression of skills and knowledge.
• Leverage AI technology to create innovative, interactive, and highly engagement content, learning paths and personalizing training experiences for learners.
• Design and develop knowledge and performance assessments to measure learner understanding and skill mastery at each level.
• Establish clear, data-based success metrics for all programs and provide regular reports on impact and ROI to drive continuous improvement.

Content Development & Maintenance:

• Conduct in-depth research and perform gap analyses by working directly with process owners and subject matter experts (SMEs).
• Collaborate across departments to align on training needs and content.
• Ensure training content is accurate, up-to-date, and consistently applied across the organization, acting as the central owner for content management and synchronization.

Team Leadership & Management:

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing training team.
• Guide and train the team on effective content creation methodologies, ensuring all team members are equipped to design and develop high-quality, impactful training materials.
• Manage team member performance, conduct regular audits of work, and provide constructive feedback to foster continuous growth and development.
• Interview, hire, and train new team members, providing guidance and support for their career development.

Project Management & Collaboration:

• Define project scopes, timelines, and milestones, effectively communicating issues and risks to stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Proactively manage expectations for change and serve as a central point of contact for all training initiatives.
• Participate in client meetings, company-wide off-site meetings, and training programs as needed, which may require travel.

Experience, Skills and Core Competencies

Required Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Training and Leadership Development, Talent Management, or Organizational Development.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience building, launching, and managing comprehensive training programs.
• Proven experience in an environment that demands strong deliverables and the ability to identify problems and drive solutions.
• Experience designing and implementing layered or tiered training programs.
• A four-year degree.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio) and/or G-Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, etc.).
• Working knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching, and AI technologies.
• Ability to learn new technologies and apply them to enhance training experiences.

Core Competencies & Leadership Attributes:

• Strategic & Analytical Acumen: Possesses the curiosity to figure out how things work and the ability to translate audit findings, assessments, and gap analyses into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Curriculum Design Expertise: Possesses the ability to translate complex training concepts into digestible and logical learning modules that progressively build upon one another.
• Leadership & Management: Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire a team toward a shared vision. Possesses the patience, empathy, and communication skills to address conflict and facilitate problem resolution with minimal management involvement.
• Communication & Public Speaking: Advanced oral and written communication skills with the ability to work directly with leadership and a strong command of public speaking and facilitation.
• Organizational & Time Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet commitments while working independently and staying focused on deadlines.
• Collaboration & Adaptability: Approaches challenges with a helpful, respectful, and team-oriented attitude. Is receptive to feedback, willing to learn, and embraces continuous improvement.