UK

United Kingdom · Learning and development · Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Learning Technology Specialist

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 bandMid-Level (2-5 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toManager, Learning Technology & Platforms
  • UK framework levelUsually a coordinator, or early in a professional job

Also advertised as LMS Administrator · Learning Platforms Analyst · Learning Systems Support · Digital Learning Coordinator

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
OCNLR Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training OCN London · Level 4 · covers 2 of 10 standards
Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF) Focus Awards Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 4 Diploma in Learning and Development City & Guilds Limited · Level 4 · covers 1 of 10 standards
TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF) Training Qualifications UK Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
IAO Level 3 Diploma In Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools Innovate Awarding · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards

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

The units you would start with

Identify individual learning and development needs GQA PAA\VQ-SET Level 3 Certificate in Learning and Development
Provide learning opportunities for colleagues Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Playwork (RQF)
Support learning and development within own area of responsibility TQUK Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools (RQF)
Support learners with cognition and learning needs IAO Level 3 Diploma In Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Start my Learning Technology Specialist plan, free
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Learning Technology Specialist

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

  1. Identify individual learning and development needs GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  2. Provide learning opportunities for colleagues Focus Awards Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  3. Support learning and development within own area of responsibility Training Qualifications UK Ltd · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
  4. Support learners with cognition and learning needs Innovate Awarding · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
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 Learning Technology Specialist?

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

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Prompt Engineering for L&D Support
  • Basic Data Visualisation & Storytelling
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 Learning Technology Specialist plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

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3What this role really is

A Learning Technology Specialist keeps learning platforms running and makes sure people can use them without trouble. This involves sorting day-to-day issues and checking systems are configured correctly. The work underpins how well others can learn, so problems here are quickly felt elsewhere.

4What you'd actually use

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

Cornerstone OnDemand / Workday Learning (LMS/LXP) Intermediate

Administering courses, managing user profiles and permissions, troubleshooting access issues, pulling standard reports.

Articulate Rise 360 Intermediate

Uploading and testing simple, template-based responsive courses; understanding how content is structured for the LMS.

Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs) Intermediate

Cleaning and formatting learner data exports, performing basic analysis for reports, manipulating data for bulk uploads.

Zapier Basic

Setting up and monitoring simple 'if-this-then-that' automations between learning apps and tools like Slack or MS Teams to streamline small tasks.

Asana / Trello Intermediate

Managing your own tasks, contributing to team project boards, tracking the progress of content uploads and support tickets.

BambooHR / Oracle HCM (HRIS) Basic

Looking up employee data to verify user profiles, understanding basic system structures and how data flows into the LMS.

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
Resolving a learner's login issue Escalate to supervisor for guidance and resolution. Independently troubleshoot and resolve, escalating to IT support only if it's an underlying network or SSO problem. Oversee the resolution, potentially guiding junior team members, and identify if it's a systemic issue requiring a broader fix.
Configuring new course settings (e.g., audience, completion criteria) Follow detailed instructions from supervisor; get all settings reviewed before publishing. Independently configure based on content team's requirements, double-checking for accuracy before publishing. Propose minor improvements to settings. Define best practice configuration standards for new course types, advise content team, and review configurations for complex programmes.
Proposing a small improvement to platform functionality Suggest ideas to supervisor, but don't expect to lead implementation. Research potential solutions, document the problem and proposed fix, and present to manager for approval and potential implementation. Scope out the technical requirements, assess impact, and present a fully-formed business case for the improvement, potentially leading the implementation.

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.

Support Ticket Resolution Time (Tier 1)
How quickly you sort out common user problems like password resets, course access issues, or simple content errors.
Target · Average <8 hours

If a learner can't access a mandatory compliance course, you'll aim to get them back on track within a few hours, not days. We'll track the average time from ticket opening to resolution.

Course Upload & Configuration Accuracy
The percentage of courses you publish or update that don't have any errors (like wrong dates, incorrect audience settings, or broken links).
Target · 99.5% accuracy

Out of 20 courses uploaded this month, you'd expect no more than one minor error. It means checking your work before hitting 'publish' and double-checking settings.

Learner Support CSAT (Customer Satisfaction)
How happy our learners are with the help you provide when they have a tech issue.
Target · >4.5/5.0 rating

After you've helped someone, they'll get a quick survey. We're looking for consistent high scores, showing you're not just fixing problems but doing it with a helpful, clear approach.

Learning Data Export & Report Accuracy
The reliability of the data you pull from our systems for L&D colleagues or business leads.
Target · 100% accuracy for routine reports

When a business unit asks for a list of everyone who completed a specific course, that list needs to be spot-on. No missing people, no extra people. It's about careful data handling.

Proactive Issue Spotting
You're not just waiting for problems to come to you; you're spotting potential issues before they blow up.
  • You'll flag potential system glitches, notice patterns in user complaints, or suggest improvements to platform settings before they become major headaches. Your manager will say, 'Glad you caught that!' more often than not.
Effective Collaboration with L&D Content Team
How well you work with the folks who build the actual learning content, making sure their courses get onto the platform smoothly.
  • Content designers will tell your manager that you're easy to work with, responsive, and help them understand the tech side of things. You'll proactively offer advice on how to get their content working best on the LMS.
Clear Communication on Technical Issues
When things go wrong, you can explain what's happening and what you're doing about it in plain English, not tech jargon.
  • Learners and L&D colleagues will understand your explanations. You'll get feedback like, 'Thanks for making that clear' or 'I finally get why that's happening.' No one should feel confused after talking to you.
Contribution to System Optimisation Ideas
You're not just maintaining the status quo; you're thinking about how we can make our learning tech even better.
  • You'll bring forward ideas for small improvements, automation, or better ways to configure the system. These might be things you've noticed from user behaviour or just 'what if we tried this?' moments.

7Would you like it

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

What people enjoy
Solving Puzzles & Fixing Things

You get a real kick out of figuring out why something isn't working and then making it right. It's that 'aha!' moment when you trace a bug back to its source or find the perfect configuration setting. You enjoy the investigative work of troubleshooting.

A learner reports that a specific module isn't marking as complete. You'll dig into the SCORM logs, check the course settings, and test different browsers until you pinpoint the exact issue and get it resolved, feeling a real sense of accomplishment.

Making Things Easier for Others

You genuinely want to help people have a smooth learning experience. When you resolve a user's problem or streamline a process, you feel good knowing you've removed a barrier for them. You appreciate direct feedback from grateful users.

After you've helped someone quickly regain access to a crucial course, they send you a thank you email. That positive feedback, knowing you've made their day a little less stressful, is a big motivator for you.

Mastering a System & Its Quirks

You enjoy becoming the expert on a particular piece of software. You'll dive into the admin manuals, explore every setting, and understand its limitations and capabilities inside out. You like being the person who knows 'how the LMS really works'.

You'll spend time exploring a new feature in Cornerstone OnDemand, understanding its nuances, and then being able to confidently explain to the content team how they can best use it for their next course.

What frustrates people
  • The 'Netflix for Learning' Fallacy: People expect a seamless, AI-driven experience but don't understand the tech limitations or budget realities.
  • Garbage In, Garbage Out: Your efforts to personalise learning are often hampered by messy, incomplete employee data from the HR system.
  • The IT Roadblock: Simple integrations or security reviews can take months, slowing down your ability to get things done.
  • Adoption Theater: You launch a fantastic new feature, only for usage to drop off after a couple of weeks as people revert to old habits.
  • Vendor Overpromise, Underdeliver: The sales demo looked amazing, but the reality of the platform is often clunky and buggy.
What this role does not give you
  • Constant greenfield development—you're mostly working with existing systems, not building new ones from scratch.
  • A quiet, uninterrupted work environment—expect ad-hoc requests and urgent support tickets throughout the day.
  • Complete control over the tech roadmap—you'll contribute ideas, but strategic decisions sit higher up.
  • Freedom from legacy systems—we've got some older tech that you'll need to understand and support.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts how effectively our entire workforce can access and complete their learning. You're the one making sure the tech works, which means less frustration for learners and better data for L&D to make decisions. Get it right, and you help improve employee skills and engagement. Get it wrong, and you're creating roadblocks for everyone trying to develop.

Inside the business
  • L&D Content Team (Instructional Designers)
  • HR Operations (for user data and integrations)
  • IT Support (for technical issues and access)
  • Business Unit Learning Leads (your main 'customers')
  • Individual Learners (who you'll help directly)
Outside the business
  • LMS/LXP Vendors (e.g., Cornerstone OnDemand, Degreed)
  • Authoring Tool Support (e.g., Articulate 360)

9What you need before you start

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

  • At least 2 years of hands-on experience administering an LMS or LXP (e.g., Cornerstone OnDemand, Workday Learning, Degreed, Docebo) or similar enterprise system.
  • Demonstrable experience in troubleshooting technical issues for end-users, ideally in a learning or HR tech context.
  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and basic data manipulation.
  • A solid understanding of common learning content formats like SCORM and how they work within a learning platform.
  • Experience working with a ticketing system (e.g., Jira, Zendesk) for managing support requests.

10What to practise next

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

Intermediate SQL for Learning Data

As we collect more granular learning data, being able to query databases directly will let you pull custom reports that aren't available through standard LMS interfaces. This means richer insights and less reliance on others for data.

SELECT, FROM, WHERE clauses · JOIN operations · Aggregation functions (COUNT, SUM, AVG) · Basic Data Cleaning with SQL

  • This week: Find an online SQL tutorial (e.g., Codecademy, SQLZoo) and complete the beginner modules.
  • This month: Get access to our learning data warehouse (with appropriate permissions) and practice running simple SELECT queries.
  • Month 2: Try to write a SQL query to answer a question that you currently answer with Excel.
  • Month 3: Collaborate with a data analyst to understand how they use SQL for more complex reporting.

Quick win: Start by simply querying user lists or course catalogues from a database. It's a low-risk way to get familiar with the syntax.

Advanced LMS/LXP Configuration & Optimisation

You'll move beyond basic administration to really optimising our platforms. This means understanding advanced settings, knowing how to tailor the user experience, and making the system work harder for us.

Custom Learning Paths & Curations · Advanced User Group Management · Single Sign-On (SSO) Troubleshooting · Platform Branding & Customisation

  • This week: Dive deep into the admin manual for our primary LMS/LXP, looking for features you haven't used.
  • This month: Take a vendor-specific training course on advanced administration for our core platform.
  • Month 2: Propose and implement a small, approved customisation or new learning path.
  • Month 3: Document a 'power user' guide for a specific platform feature for your team.

Quick win: Identify one small area of our LMS that could be better configured for a specific audience and propose a change to your manager.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Attending webinars and online courses from our core LMS/LXP vendors to stay up-to-date on new features and best practices.
  • Joining online communities or forums for learning technology professionals to share knowledge and troubleshoot common issues.
  • Reading industry blogs and publications (e.g., Learning Technologies, CLO Magazine) to keep an eye on emerging trends.
  • Participating in internal L&D 'lunch and learn' sessions to understand the content creation and instructional design side of things.

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.

Prompt Engineering for L&D Support

AI assistants are becoming incredibly powerful for drafting communications, summarising information, and even helping with troubleshooting. Knowing how to 'talk' to these tools effectively will make you much more productive.

  • Clear Instruction Prompting
  • Contextualisation
  • Output Validation
  • Ethical AI Use

Basic Data Visualisation & Storytelling

Simply pulling data isn't enough anymore. You'll need to present it in a way that's easy for non-analysts to understand and that tells a clear story about what's happening with our learning. This helps L&D make better decisions.

  • Choosing the Right Chart
  • Dashboard Design Principles
  • Highlighting Key Insights
  • Audience Adaptation

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Learning Experience Design (LXD) Principles
  • xAPI & Learning Record Store (LRS) Concepts
  • Agile for L&D (LLAMA/SAM) Awareness
  • Learning Analytics & Basic Reporting

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

    LMS Administrator / Coordinator

    2-3 years

    Skills to master

    • User support, content uploading, basic reporting, system configuration, troubleshooting common issues.

    You're ready to move on when

    • You're the go-to person for all basic LMS queries in your current role.
    • You've successfully managed multiple content uploads and updates without errors.
    • You've proactively identified and resolved recurring user issues.
    • You're comfortable pulling and interpreting standard system reports.
  2. 2

    HR Systems Support Analyst

    3-4 years

    Skills to master

    • Understanding HRIS data structures, user provisioning, data integrity, basic system integrations, troubleshooting HR tech issues.

    You're ready to move on when

    • You've supported users across various HR modules, including learning.
    • You understand how employee data flows between different HR systems.
    • You've managed user access and permissions in an enterprise HR platform.
    • You're keen to specialise more deeply in the learning technology side of things.
  3. 3

    Junior Learning Technologist / Digital Learning Assistant

    2-4 years

    Skills to master

    • Content authoring tools, basic learning design principles, multimedia integration, understanding of digital learning formats.

    You're ready to move on when

    • You've created and published digital learning content using tools like Articulate Rise or Storyline.
    • You're familiar with how SCORM and xAPI content works.
    • You've assisted with the deployment and testing of new digital learning initiatives.
    • You're eager to get more involved in the system administration and operational side of learning tech.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to designing learning technology systems, managing a team of specialists, or shaping long-term technology strategy.

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 Learning Technology Specialist is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

The record names a next step, but the catalogue has no page for it yet:

  • Senior Learning Technology Specialist (L3)

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 Identify individual learning and development needs, worked against Learning Technology Specialist.

Identify individual learning and development needs Level 3

Applied to your work in Learning Technology Specialist

This unit aims to enable learners to understand the principles of learning needs analysis and develop the skills to conduct thorough analyses for individuals. Learners will be able to identify learning gaps, development areas, and agree on individual learning and development needs with relevant parties.

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.

Start my Learning Technology Specialist plan, free
See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Learning Technology Specialist
  • Learning Experience Design (LXD) Principles
  • xAPI & Learning Record Store (LRS) Concepts
  • Agile for L&D (LLAMA/SAM) Awareness
  • Learning Analytics & Basic Reporting
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

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

  1. Senior Learning Technology Specialist (L3)

    3-5 years in current role

    You'll move from owning day-to-day operations to leading specific projects and mentoring others. Your scope will broaden to more complex system configurations and smaller integrations.

    • Advanced LMS/LXP Configuration (customisations, complex rules)
    • Basic API Concepts (understanding how systems 'talk' to each other)
    • Data Analysis & Visualisation (using Tableau/Power BI for deeper insights)
    • Vendor Relationship Management (working directly with vendor support on complex issues)
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be honest, some parts of managing learning tech can be a bit of a grind. But what if you could offload the repetitive, time-consuming stuff to AI? We're not talking about robots taking over, but smart tools that help you get more done, faster, so you can focus on the interesting problems.

Imagine having a digital assistant that helps you tag content, analyse learner feedback, and even draft those tricky vendor comparison reports. That's the reality we're building towards. You'll use AI to make your daily work smoother, giving you back hours every week.

Content Intelligence & Auto-Tagging

Use AI to automatically scan new learning content (videos, articles, courses) and tag it against our company's skills taxonomy. This means less manual work for you and better, more relevant recommendations for learners. No more inconsistent tagging!

Learner Sentiment Analysis

Feed open-ended survey feedback, forum comments, and chatbot logs into an AI tool. It'll instantly identify common themes, points of friction, and emerging needs from learners, giving you faster and unbiased insights into what's working and what isn't.

RFP & Vendor Analysis Accelerator

When we're looking at new learning tools, use an AI assistant to ingest mountains of vendor documentation and RFP responses. Ask it to summarise key features, compare platforms against our requirements, and flag potential risks. It'll drastically cut down on your review time.

Business Case & Comms Drafting

Got a tricky email to send to a vendor or need to draft a quick summary of a project for your manager? Provide an AI model with your goals and key points, and it'll generate a solid first draft for you to refine. It's great for overcoming 'blank page' syndrome.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Learning Technology Specialist?

Common routes in include LMS Administrator / Coordinator (2-3 years), HR Systems Support Analyst (3-4 years) and Junior Learning Technologist / Digital Learning Assistant (2-4 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Learning Technology Specialist progress to?

This role can lead on to Senior Learning Technology Specialist (3-5 years in current role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Learning Technology Specialist?

Increasingly, Prompt Engineering for L&D Support and Basic Data Visualisation & Storytelling. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

Or try another one

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 3

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

The skills involved transfer well. They can lead into broader HR technology roles, learning analytics, or product management in EdTech. Experience managing complex systems and understanding user needs applies across many sectors.

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 Learning Technology Specialist plan, free 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.