Training Manager

Northwestern Mutual Portland•San Diego, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Training Manager plays a critical role in the successful execution of the firm’s development infrastructure. Partnering with the Chief Development Officer and other leadership team members, this role ensures smooth onboarding and delivery of Financial Planning Academy (FPA) and post-FPA training for all new financial advisors. The Training Manager regularly reviews and improves curriculum and training materials, coaches and evaluates facilitators to meet expectations, and is responsible for the development and in-class needs of the financial advisors. Additionally, this role supports Network-wide training and development events by handling logistics, coordination, and communications, and tracks early advisor progress.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Adult Education, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
2+ years of experience designing, developing, and facilitating training programs.
Proven group facilitation and leadership skills paired with exceptional platform/virtual presentation abilities.
Demonstrated ability to coach facilitators and instructors, providing actionable feedback grounded in adult learning principles.
Strong relationship‑building and stakeholder management skills; works effectively across all levels of the organization.
Proactive, creative problem-solver who anticipates and mediates training-related issues and leads crucial conversations with a results-focused approach.
Excellent time management and organizational skills; able to prioritize and execute multiple programs and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to handle sensitive information and maintain a high degree of confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary representative and point of contact for Financial Planning Academy (FPA), ensuring a consistent, white‑glove experience for all new advisors and clear communication with leadership.
Facilitate FPA monthly and four CFRDP (College Financial Representative Development Program) sessions annually; act as the on‑the‑ground training expert for live development events.
Plan and schedule all full‑time training classes, manage calendar invites and confirmations, and coordinate guest speakers, logistics, and other training needs.
Maintain and refine curriculum, training materials, speaker prep guides, and session resources; distribute facilitator briefings and pre‑session objectives.
Lead graduation events and other key program milestones, handling event logistics and attendee communications.
Produce and distribute daily training reports, session recaps, and activity results during FPA; collect and share survey feedback with Mentors, Directors of Development, and Managing Directors, highlighting action items and follow‑
Track class outcomes and advisor progress (including post‑FPA qualifications); analyze results and recommend training improvements, driving approved changes in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer.
Develop deep knowledge of the U5 development structure, Granum activity, and the Client Acquisition model to effectively coach advisors and explain the programs purpose.
Support broader firm development initiatives by coordinating organization‑wide training logistics in collaboration with the Development Coordinator and the Chief Development Officer.
Maintain contest and tracking reports for leadership and provide timely updates as required.
Continuously streamline training processes, proactively identify and resolve delivery issues, and recommend operational improvements to enhance consistency and effectiveness.
Participate in monthly training & development study group meetings with peers and home office; share best practices and contribute to the training & development community.