UK

United Kingdom · Learning and development · Principal/Manager (12-16 years)

Manager, Learning Technology & Operations

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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  • Experience bandPrincipal/Manager (12-16 years)
  • Direct reports3-8 reports
  • Reports toDirector, Learning Ecosystem & Analytics
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Head of Learning Systems · Learning Platform Lead · Senior Learning Technology Manager · Learning & Development Operations Manager

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Playwork (Wales) NCFE · Level 5 · covers 2 of 13 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing for England Pearson Education Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 13 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Digital Technologies Pearson Education Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 13 standards
OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Project Management OTHM Qualifications · Level 5 · covers 1 of 13 standards
Highfield Level 5 Diploma in Operations Management Highfield Qualifications · Level 5 · covers 1 of 13 standards
Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF) Focus Awards Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 13 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Provide learning opportunities for colleagues NCFE CACHE Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Playwork (Wales)
Data Analytics Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing for England
Digital Business Practices OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Project Management
Project Implementation Highfield Level 5 Diploma in Operations Management

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Manager, Learning Technology & Operations

4 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Provide learning opportunities for colleagues NCFE · covers 2 of 13 standards Level 5
  2. Data Analytics Pearson Education Ltd · covers 1 of 13 standards Level 5
  3. Digital Business Practices OTHM Qualifications · covers 1 of 13 standards Level 5
  4. Project Implementation Highfield Qualifications · covers 1 of 13 standards Level 5
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Manager, Learning Technology & Operations?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skill this role is being asked for

  • AI-Powered Learning Personalisation
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Manager, Learning Technology & Operations plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

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Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

This job is about managing the systems and processes behind learning and training. You keep learning platforms working, keep data clean, and make sure training staff have the tools they need to deliver good training.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

LMS/LXP (e.g., Cornerstone OnDemand, Degreed, Workday Learning) Architect

Platform selection and strategy, vendor negotiation, data model ownership, governance, API integration roadmap, budget ownership. You're defining how the platform evolves.

Data & Analytics Platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Snowflake) Strategic

Defining the learning analytics strategy, integrating learning data into enterprise data warehouses, presenting insights to executive leadership. You're connecting learning to business outcomes.

Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) (e.g., WalkMe, Whatfix) Architect

Owning the enterprise DAP strategy, integrating it across multiple platforms (not just L&D tools) to support performance 'in the flow of work.' You're thinking about performance support holistically.

HRIS (e.g., Workday HCM, SAP SuccessFactors) Strategic

Influencing HR data governance policies to ensure clean data for the entire learning ecosystem. Troubleshooting complex HRIS data feed failures with IT/HR partners.

Ticketing/Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira Service Desk, Asana) Advanced

Reporting on team SLAs, resource planning based on project pipeline and support volume. Configuring complex Jira workflows for system upgrades and project tracking.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Learning Platform Strategy & Roadmap No involvement; executes tasks defined by others. Contributes ideas and feedback on specific features or processes. Recommends strategic improvements and leads implementation of parts of the roadmap. Manager: Defines and owns the 1-3 year roadmap, aligning with L&D leadership.
Budget Allocation & Vendor Management None; follows procurement processes. Provides input on tool effectiveness; may participate in vendor calls. Evaluates vendor proposals, makes recommendations for specific tools within budget. Manager: Owns the budget (£500K-£2M), negotiates contracts, and makes final vendor selection decisions for the team's tools.
Team Hiring & Performance No direct reports; focuses on individual performance. May informally mentor new joiners; provides peer feedback. Mentors 0-2 junior team members; provides input on their performance. Manager: Full authority for hiring, performance reviews, and career development for a team of 3-8 direct reports.
System Architecture & Integrations Executes basic system tasks following defined procedures. Troubleshoots integration issues; configures existing integrations. Designs and implements complex integrations; leads UAT for major system changes. Manager: Defines the overall system architecture, approves integration designs, and ensures long-term scalability and data integrity.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

LMS/LXP Uptime & Performance
The percentage of time our core learning platforms are fully operational and performing as expected.
Target · 99.9% monthly uptime, <2 second page load times.

In Q2, our LMS had 99.95% uptime, with an average page load of 1.8 seconds, meaning users rarely hit a snag.

Support Ticket Resolution Time (Team Average)
The average time it takes your team to resolve user support tickets related to learning technology.
Target · 80% of Tier 1 tickets resolved within 4 working hours; 90% of Tier 2 tickets within 24 working hours.

Last month, your team's average resolution for Tier 1 tickets was 3.5 hours, keeping user frustration low.

Learning Technology Budget Adherence
How closely your team manages spending against the allocated budget for learning platforms, tools, and services.
Target · Within ±5% of the annual budget (excluding approved strategic investments).

By Q3, you'd spent £1.2M of a £1.25M budget, staying well within the target while delivering key projects.

Platform Adoption Rate (Key Features)
The percentage of active users engaging with specific new or under-utilised features within our learning ecosystem.
Target · Increase active monthly users of the LXP's social learning features by 20% in 6 months.

After launching the new peer-to-peer coaching feature, adoption jumped from 15% to 28% in three months.

Stakeholder Satisfaction with Learning Tech
How happy our internal clients (L&D, HRBPs, business leaders) are with the functionality, reliability, and support for our learning platforms.
  • Feedback from quarterly L&D team surveys, direct feedback from HRBPs, positive comments from business leaders about platform stability and data insights. You're seen as a trusted advisor, not just a 'fixer'.
Team Development & Retention
The growth and engagement of your direct reports, ensuring they feel challenged, supported, and see a clear career path.
  • Low team turnover, positive feedback in 1-2-1s, successful completion of individual development plans, junior team members taking on more complex tasks, and positive feedback in internal engagement surveys.
Strategic Roadmap Execution
Your ability to plan, prioritise, and deliver against the long-term vision for our learning technology stack.
  • Successful delivery of key platform upgrades or new tool integrations on time and within budget, clear documentation of the technology roadmap, proactive identification of future needs, and alignment of tech strategy with overall L&D goals.
Data Governance & Compliance
Ensuring all learning data is handled responsibly, securely, and in compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR).
  • No data breaches or compliance issues related to learning data, clear data retention policies in place, regular audits of data access, and proactive communication with legal and IT security teams.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Building and Optimising Systems

You get a real kick out of seeing a complex system work seamlessly, knowing you designed it that way. You'll spend time mapping out new workflows, configuring integrations, and constantly tweaking things to make them better.

You'll be the one celebrating when a new automation rule saves your team 10 hours a week, or when a tricky integration finally goes live without a hitch.

Leading and Developing a Team

You genuinely enjoy guiding people, helping them grow, and seeing them succeed. You'll spend a good chunk of your week in 1-2-1s, coaching, and making sure your team has what they need to do their best work.

Nothing makes you prouder than seeing a junior team member you've mentored successfully lead a complex project or present their work to senior stakeholders.

Strategic Impact through Technology

You want your work to matter. You'll be thinking about how learning technology can solve real business problems, not just deliver training. You'll connect the dots between platform features and organisational goals.

You'll be excited to show how a new feature on our LXP has directly contributed to an increase in a critical skill across the sales team, impacting revenue.

What frustrates people
  • Inheriting a messy, decade-old LMS with no consistent naming conventions and thousands of 'zombie' courses – and being responsible for untangling it.
  • The constant battle between IT Security's 'lock everything down' mandate and L&D's need for flexible, engaging tools that often live in the cloud.
  • Explaining to a senior leader for the fifth time why their 'simple request' for a report requires a complex data query that will take two days, not two hours.
  • Vendor negotiations that drag on forever, or dealing with unhelpful vendor support when something critical breaks.
  • Chasing other departments (like HR or IT) for clean data or timely approvals that hold up your projects.
  • The pressure to deliver 'more with less' when budgets are tight, forcing tough prioritisation calls.
What this role does not give you
  • A purely technical, heads-down coding role without people management.
  • A role where you're solely focused on instructional design or content creation.
  • A 'set it and forget it' environment; our tech stack is always evolving.
  • Complete autonomy without any budget or resource constraints.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts our ability to deliver effective, scalable learning across the entire organisation. You'll own the technology that underpins all our training, from mandatory compliance to leadership development. Get it right, and we empower our people; get it wrong, and we create friction and frustration, hindering skill development and business performance.

Inside the business
  • Director, Learning Ecosystem & Analytics (your boss, for strategic alignment)
  • Head of L&D (for overall L&D strategy and budget)
  • Instructional Design Team (your internal clients for content delivery)
  • HR Business Partners (for understanding talent needs and user data)
  • IT Security & Infrastructure (for system integrations and compliance)
  • Finance Team (for budget management and vendor payments)
Outside the business
  • LMS/LXP Vendors (for platform support, upgrades, and negotiations)
  • Content Providers (for integration and technical requirements)
  • Industry Peers (for benchmarking and best practices)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven experience managing a team of technical administrators or analysts (3+ direct reports).
  • Extensive hands-on experience with at least one major enterprise LMS/LXP (e.g., Cornerstone, Workday Learning) at an advanced configuration level.
  • Demonstrable experience in managing a budget (at least £250K) and negotiating with vendors.
  • Strong understanding of data integration principles and experience troubleshooting complex data flows between systems (e.g., HRIS to LMS).
  • A track record of designing and implementing process improvements or automation initiatives within a learning or HR context.
  • Experience presenting technical and strategic information to senior leadership.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Data Orchestration & Integration

As our learning ecosystem grows, so does the complexity of data. You'll need to manage data not just between two systems, but across a dozen, ensuring consistency, quality, and real-time flow. This is about building a robust data pipeline for learning.

API Management & Microservices · Data Warehousing (e.g., Snowflake, Azure Synapse) · ETL/ELT Processes · Data Security & Compliance in Integrations

  • This month: Familiarise yourself with our company's enterprise data architecture and key integration points.
  • Next quarter: Take an online course on API management or a specific data warehousing technology (e.g., Snowflake basics).
  • Month 3-6: Lead a project to streamline or re-architect an existing, problematic data integration.
  • Month 6-12: Work with IT to define a long-term data strategy for learning data within the enterprise data warehouse.

Quick win: Document the current state of all learning data integrations, identifying single points of failure or manual steps that could be automated. Start building relationships with the IT data engineering team.

Vendor Ecosystem Management

You won't just manage individual vendors; you'll manage an entire ecosystem of learning technology providers. This means understanding how they fit together, managing dependencies, and optimising the overall value of our tech stack.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis · Vendor Relationship Management (VRM) · Contract Negotiation & Management · Market Scanning & Evaluation

  • This month: Review all current vendor contracts and identify key renewal dates and terms.
  • Next quarter: Schedule strategic review meetings with our top 3 learning tech vendors to discuss their roadmaps.
  • Month 3-6: Lead a vendor selection process for a new tool, focusing on TCO and strategic fit.
  • Month 6-12: Develop a comprehensive vendor management strategy, including regular performance reviews and negotiation playbooks.

Quick win: Create a centralised repository of all vendor contracts, contact details, and key performance indicators. Identify any upcoming renewals that need immediate attention.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attend industry conferences (e.g., Learning Technologies, DevLearn) to stay current on trends and network with peers.
  • Participate in online communities or forums dedicated to learning technology (e.g., specific LMS user groups, ATD forums).
  • Take advanced courses or certifications in data analytics, cloud architecture, or cybersecurity to deepen your technical expertise.
  • Engage in leadership development programmes to refine your people management and strategic influence skills.
  • Read industry publications and research papers on the future of learning and work.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Powered Learning Personalisation

AI is rapidly changing how learners engage with content. Soon, platforms won't just recommend courses; they'll dynamically adapt learning paths, content, and assessments based on individual performance, preferences, and career goals. Your role will shift from configuring static paths to overseeing intelligent, adaptive systems.

  • Adaptive Learning Algorithms
  • Recommendation Engines
  • Skill Graph & Ontology Management
  • Ethical AI in L&D

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Learning Technology Standards (SCORM/xAPI)
  • Kirkpatrick Model of Evaluation (Levels 1-4)
  • Data Governance & Privacy (GDPR, etc.)
  • Learning Analytics & Reporting Strategy
  • Workflow Automation & Process Optimisation

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Senior Performance Support Administrator / Learning Systems Analyst (L3/L4)

    3-5 years

    Skills to master

    • Deep technical expertise in LMS/LXP configuration, complex reporting, system integrations, UAT management, and mentoring junior team members. You'd be leading projects and making technical decisions.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led 2-3 major system upgrade or integration projects end-to-end.
    • Consistently identified and implemented process improvements that saved significant time or improved user experience.
    • Effectively mentored junior team members, helping them grow their skills.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and present technical solutions clearly.
  2. 2

    IT Systems Manager (with L&D focus)

    4-6 years

    Skills to master

    • Strong background in IT infrastructure, system administration, data management, and security, with a specialisation in supporting L&D applications. Experience managing a small team of IT specialists.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Managed the operational aspects of several business-critical SaaS applications.
    • Successfully led IT projects involving data integration and security compliance.
    • Proven ability to manage vendor relationships and negotiate service agreements.
    • Demonstrated leadership in troubleshooting and resolving complex system issues.
  3. 3

    L&D Project Manager / Programme Lead

    5-7 years

    Skills to master

    • Expertise in managing large-scale L&D programmes, including budget, timelines, and stakeholder communication. A solid understanding of learning technologies and how they support programme delivery.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully delivered 2-3 complex L&D programmes on time and within budget.
    • Managed cross-functional teams and external vendors effectively.
    • Demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate risks in large projects.
    • Strong understanding of how technology enables learning outcomes.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to senior learning and development leadership, such as VP of Talent and Capability or Chief Learning Officer. It can also lead into wider HR technology leadership, such as Head of HR Technology or HRIS Director.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Manager, Learning Technology & Operations is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Provide learning opportunities for colleagues, worked against Manager, Learning Technology & Operations.

Provide learning opportunities for colleagues Level 5

Applied to your work in Manager, Learning Technology & Operations

This unit aims to equip learners with the skills to encourage learning and development in colleagues. Learners will be able to help colleagues identify learning needs, plan and implement learning opportunities, and review and update their development plans.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Manager, Learning Technology & Operations
  • Learning Technology Standards (SCORM/xAPI)
  • Kirkpatrick Model of Evaluation (Levels 1-4)
  • Data Governance & Privacy (GDPR, etc.)
  • Learning Analytics & Reporting Strategy
  • Workflow Automation & Process Optimisation
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Manager, Learning Technology & Operations is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Director, Learning Ecosystem & Analytics (L6)

    3-5 years

    One level up, moving from functional management to strategic leadership of a broader learning ecosystem.

    • Advanced Learning Data Science Leading a team to build predictive models for learning impact and ROI.
    • Strategic Vendor Portfolio Management Managing relationships with a broader range of strategic partners and evaluating emerging technologies.
    • Global Learning Operations Overseeing learning technology and operations across multiple regions and diverse regulatory environments.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, managing learning technology and operations can feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. But what if you could offload some of the repetitive, time-consuming tasks to AI? We're not talking about replacing you; we're talking about giving you a powerful co-pilot so you can focus on strategy, team leadership, and those big-picture projects that truly move the needle.

Imagine a world where your team spends less time on manual data entry, basic support queries, or drafting routine communications. That's the reality we're building with AI. You'll be at the forefront, guiding your team to use these tools to boost efficiency, provide better user support, and free up valuable time for more impactful work. Here's a glimpse of how AI can transform your day-to-day:

Intelligent Ticket Triage & Resolution

AI can analyse incoming support emails and tickets, automatically categorising issues (e.g., login, course access, certificate error) and responding instantly with links to relevant knowledge base articles or one-click solutions. This can deflect up to 40% of basic Tier 1 tickets, freeing up your team for more complex problems and proactive work.

Predictive Learning Analytics

Move beyond just reporting on what happened. AI can identify at-risk learners who might drop out of a programme or fail an assessment based on their engagement patterns. It can then trigger automated, personalised nudges, or alert your team to intervene proactively, significantly improving programme completion rates and effectiveness.

Smart Content Curation & Management

AI assistants can help your team build and maintain learning pathways by automatically scanning internal documents (Confluence, SharePoint) and external sources (articles, videos) to suggest relevant, up-to-date content. It can also flag outdated materials for review, ensuring our learning catalogue is always fresh and accurate, reducing manual content audits.

Automated User Communications & Documentation

Save hours by letting AI draft system announcements, outage notifications, and new feature guides. Imagine simply prompting, 'Draft a clear, friendly email to all managers explaining how to use the new reporting dashboard, including the top 3 benefits for their teams.' Your team can then review and refine, not start from scratch. It also helps generate first drafts of documentation.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Manager, Learning Technology & Operations?

Common routes in include Senior Performance Support Administrator / Learning Systems Analyst (L3/L4) (3-5 years), IT Systems Manager (with L&D focus) (4-6 years) and L&D Project Manager / Programme Lead (5-7 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Manager, Learning Technology & Operations progress to?

This role can lead on to Director, Learning Ecosystem & Analytics (3-5 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Manager, Learning Technology & Operations?

Increasingly, AI-Powered Learning Personalisation. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in learning and development

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Managing complex technology, leading teams, planning, and data analysis are skills used across industries. They can transfer into similar roles in sectors such as FinTech, healthcare or manufacturing, or into general IT or operations leadership.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.