Learning and Development Specialist

As a Learning and Development Specialist you design, coordinate and deliver training and upskilling programmes that help employees grow their skills and perform at their best. You assess what learning gaps exist within an organisation, then build structured programmes — from in-person workshops to e-learning modules — that address those needs. Day-to-day you liaise with managers and senior leaders to understand business priorities, track the effectiveness of training initiatives, and continuously refine your approach based on feedback and outcomes. You may work as part of an in-house HR team or as a consultant advising multiple client organisations across different sectors.

Most Learning and Development Specialists hold an NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Human Resource Management, Business, Education, Psychology, or a related discipline, available at institutions such as UCD, DCU, University of Limerick, TU Dublin, and ATU. Leaving Certificate subjects such as Business, English, and Sociology or Psychology are useful preparation. A postgraduate qualification at NFQ Level 9, such as an MSc in HRM or Organisational Learning, is increasingly common and can strengthen career prospects significantly. Professional membership and qualification with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) — at Foundation, Associate, or Chartered level — is widely regarded as an industry standard in Ireland and is often expected by employers. Some practitioners enter through a PLC course in Business or Training and Education at NFQ Level 5 or 6, gaining experience before pursuing a degree through part-time or Springboard+ routes.