Learning and Development Manager

Company Overview:

A collection of distinctive design studios serving the built environment.

RDC-S111 is now named Common Arts. Common Arts integrates a family of specialized design studios including RDC, Studio One Eleven, Dyelot Interiors and PDO. Our family of studios provide targeted expertise across the built environment to address our clients’ unique design challenges.

Role Summary

The Learning and Development Manager leads company training and performance efforts, working closely with partners, principals, and other firm leaders. This role plays a key part in shaping how the company grows: helping people build stronger skills, greater capability, and deeper engagement so they can deliver real value to clients and their profession. When employees grow, Common Arts and its brands grow too, strengthening their edge, reputation, and long-term success.

Key Responsibilities

• Continue open communication with principals and leaders of each work group on the implementation, customization, and optimization of training programs, ensuring forward progress.

• Work with People Services, Finance, and Talent teams to maintain talent budget.

• Lead the development and implementation of the annual performance program, using our HRIS.

• Gather participation and effectiveness statistics to drive decision making in training, talent, and performance areas.

• Implement and improve training and performance programs that allow for flexibility and scalability across locations.

Career Pathing & Performance Development

• Partner with supervisors and practice leaders to shepherd individualized soft and tech skill training maps that align staff development with both personal growth and firm capability.

• Build scalable development frameworks (skills, credentials, leadership behaviors) that raise the overall talent bench and strengthen the firm's competitive position.

• Facilitate leadership development programs, which may include on-site/online training, 1:1 coaching, and small-group discussions, or other modalities.

• Determine when to outsource leadership development initiatives versus manage them internally.

• Coordinate the firm's Leadership Program, including retreats, promotion criteria, and nomination processes, incorporating management's input.

• Work with Senior Director, People Services to develop annual performance check-in program.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Own pipeline-building initiatives, including career fairs, university relationships, and the summer internship program, in partnership with the Talent Acquisition Specialist.

• Partner with People Services to refine onboarding programs, accelerating new hires' time-to-productivity through training maps.

Training & Knowledge Development

• Coordinate and schedule professional training programs with Technical Management, BIM, and Materials leaders to advance technical rigor and design excellence.

• Lead state of California "Employer Training Program" for company credit.

• Introduce new learning technologies and methods as needed; willingness to learn new AI tools.

• Publish a monthly newsletter highlighting training programs that support firm objectives, licensure, and career advancement.

• Audit major project kick-off and close-out meetings to link lessons learned to ongoing training priorities.

• Promote a culture of excellence, accountability, and recognition that reflects Common Arts' brand as an employer of choice and industry leader.

• Support workforce licensure and certification programs, including tracking professional licenses, assisting employees in obtaining credentials, and aligning licensure progress with career development and firm goals.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive leadership in training, learning & development, organizational development, or HR preferably within architecture, engineering, or professional services environments.

• Proven ability to design and implement programs that measurably improve organizational performance.

• Strong analytical and communication skills; familiarity in ADP, and other HRIS/analytics tools.

• Experienced in aligning development strategies with corporate growth goals and operational priorities.

• Demonstrated commitment to developing people as a means of strengthening firm capability and industry reputation.

• Ability to work both individually and with a team.

• Well organized and has an ability to maintain and advance multiple talent programs simultaneously.

• Based in our Long Beach office, with willingness to travel to remote locations as needed; open to a hybrid schedule.

The base salary is estimated between $85,000 - $100,000 plus bonuses and benefits and is contingent on location & relevant experience.

Common Arts is an equal opportunity employer.