What Do Learning and Organizational Development Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for learning and organizational development specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what learning and organizational development specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Learning and Organizational Development Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about learning and organizational development specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Learning and Organizational Development Specialists apply principles of psychology to human resources, administration, management, sales, and marketing problems. Activities may include policy planning; employee testing and selection, training, and development; and organizational development and analysis. May work with management to organize the work setting to improve worker productivity.
Popular Job Titles For Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Organizational Development Managers
- Organizational Development Specialists
- Directors of Organizational Development
- Organizational Development Consultants
- Learning and Organizational Development Managers
- Directors of Organizational Effectiveness
- Operational Effectiveness Directors
- Organizational Effectiveness Managers
- Organizational Development Analysts
- Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
- Directors of Learning and Organizational Development
- Organizational Development and Training Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for learning and organizational development specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
Learning and Organizational Development Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Scientific Research and Development Services: 33.8%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 22.6%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 13.3%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 8%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.3%
- Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: 5.2%
- Other: 10.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of learning and organizational development specialists can be found working in the Scientific Research and Development Services sector. In 2022, about 33.8% of all jobs for learning and organizational development specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (22.6%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (13.3%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (8%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.3%) and Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (5.2%).
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Degree Options for Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Understand what’s behind the structure, behavior and environment of your organization.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Strengthen your grasp of brain science and personality styles, individual and organizational intelligence and innovation and change management and become a transformational leader, with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Business Psychology.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Create a high-performance culture by broadening your knowledge of leadership theory, change management and managerial psychology through Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership.
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Learning and Organizational Development Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what learning and organizational development specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work learning and organizational development specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that learning and organizational development specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for learning and organizational development specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
Based on 3,918 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development | 2,446 | 62% |
| Project Management | 1,250 | 32% |
| Change Management | 1,216 | 31% |
| Talent Management | 826 | 21% |
| Performance Management | 822 | 21% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 2,282 | 58% |
| Communications | 2,168 | 55% |
| Management | 1,846 | 47% |
| Planning | 1,077 | 27% |
| Coaching | 1,056 | 27% |
Based on 3,918 job postings related to learning and organizational development specialists, organizational development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, change management, talent management, performance management and organizational effectiveness were also highly sought.
As for common skills, leadership was the most desired skill found in job postings for learning and organizational development specialists, followed by communications, management, planning, coaching and presentations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development | 2,446 | 62% |
| Project Management | 1,250 | 32% |
| Change Management | 1,216 | 31% |
| Talent Management | 826 | 21% |
| Performance Management | 822 | 21% |
| Organizational Effectiveness | 770 | 20% |
| Psychology | 697 | 18% |
| Succession Planning | 567 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 561 | 14% |
| Organizational Change Management | 514 | 13% |
| Organizational Architecture | 511 | 13% |
| Employee Engagement | 493 | 13% |
| Instructional Design | 469 | 12% |
| Industrial And Organizational Psychology | 463 | 12% |
| Business Strategies | 453 | 12% |
| Adult Education | 449 | 11% |
| Data Analysis | 430 | 11% |
| Process Improvement | 425 | 11% |
| Organizational Leadership | 423 | 11% |
| Surveys | 356 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 2,282 | 58% |
| Communications | 2,168 | 55% |
| Management | 1,846 | 47% |
| Planning | 1,077 | 27% |
| Coaching | 1,056 | 27% |
| Presentations | 1,022 | 26% |
| Leadership Development | 980 | 25% |
| Consulting | 978 | 25% |
| Writing | 960 | 25% |
| Training And Development | 920 | 23% |
| Influencing Skills | 854 | 22% |
| Research | 825 | 21% |
| Innovation | 785 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 779 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 731 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 691 | 18% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 690 | 18% |
| Operations | 690 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 688 | 18% |
| Coordinating | 617 | 16% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Learning and Organizational Development Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development Managers | 1,718 | 23% |
| Organizational Development Specialists | 1,079 | 14.5% |
| Directors of Organizational Development | 661 | 8.9% |
| Organizational Development Consultants | 751 | 10.1% |
| Learning and Organizational Development Managers | 639 | 8.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was organizational development managers, with 514 unique job postings. Organizational development specialists were second, with 294 postings, followed by directors of organizational development, organizational development consultants and learning and organizational development managers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to learning and organizational development specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development Managers | 1,718 | 23% |
| Organizational Development Specialists | 1,079 | 14.5% |
| Directors of Organizational Development | 661 | 8.9% |
| Organizational Development Consultants | 751 | 10.1% |
| Learning and Organizational Development Managers | 639 | 8.6% |
| Directors of Organizational Effectiveness | 308 | 4.1% |
| Operational Effectiveness Directors | 181 | 2.4% |
| Organizational Effectiveness Managers | 241 | 3.2% |
| Organizational Development Analysts | 179 | 2.4% |
| Learning and Organizational Development Specialists | 232 | 3.1% |
| Directors of Learning and Organizational Development | 236 | 3.2% |
| Organizational Development and Training Specialists | 228 | 3.1% |
| Industrial/Organizational Psychologists | 103 | 1.4% |
| Psychologists | 301 | 4% |
| Leadership and Organizational Development Consultants | 230 | 3.1% |
| Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants | 74 | 1% |
| Innovation Leads | 55 | 0.7% |
| Customer Satisfaction Analysts | 101 | 1.4% |
| Consulting Psychologists | 68 | 0.9% |
| Workplace Managers | 80 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for learning and organizational development specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for learning and organizational development specialists.
How much do learning and organizational development specialists make?
Learning and Organizational Development Specialists: How do you become one?
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