Academy Leadership Specialist

Retail Academy Manager Job Overview

The Retail Academy is a pivotal component of our business, tasked with ensuring seamless execution of training programs and curriculum development. As the strategic and operational lead for this critical function, you will be responsible for driving growth through exceptional leadership.

This role demands high visibility, proactive engagement, and consistent follow-through to build trust with stakeholders, deliver quality outcomes, and maintain program momentum. A key aspect of your responsibility will be translating strategic priorities into actionable learning solutions and annual training roadmaps.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Business Alignment
  • Develop and enforce a content approval schedule to ensure that no curriculum is delivered without prior sign-off.
  • Work with subject matter experts and instructional designers to create relevant, accurate, and branded learning materials.
  • Build scenario-based and real-world application activities into every course to enhance learner engagement.
  • Conduct quarterly trainer performance reviews, including session observations and stakeholder feedback.
• Stakeholder & Relationship Management
  • Maintain clear, documented meeting minutes and action trackers to ensure accountability on both sides.
  • Be a visible advocate for the Academy within offices, dealer network forums, and industry events.
  • Act as the primary liaison with various teams, including Brand, Marketing, Sales, Aftersales, Purchasing, and Learning & Development.
  • Provide data-driven insights from training evaluations, dealer feedback, and performance analytics.
• Program & Curriculum Management
  • Lead the end-to-end process for training program creation—from needs analysis to post-delivery review.
  • Maintain a central repository with version control for all training materials to prevent outdated content use.
  • Implement a Trainer Readiness Certification process—trainers must demonstrate product and delivery competence before delivery.
  • Deliver bi-annual Train the Trainer (TTT) sessions for curriculum updates and facilitation skill enhancement.
• Operational Excellence & Execution
  • Ensure all training logistics—venues, equipment, travel—are confirmed minimum 4 weeks prior to delivery.
  • Enforce a zero last-minute cancellation policy, with contingency plans for trainer or resource changes.
  • Track and manage budget performance vs. forecast, reporting variances and corrective actions monthly.
  • Use a project management approach for all deliverables.
• Issue Prevention, Resolution & Continuous Improvement
  • Proactively identify risks (content readiness, trainer availability, stakeholder approval delays) and resolve before impact.
  • Implement Post-Program Debrief Reports for the Academy—highlighting successes, improvement areas, and participant feedback.
  • Ensure no stakeholder complaints remain unresolved beyond 48 hours.
  • Maintain a Lessons Learned Log after every major project or program to capture best practices and avoid repeat mistakes.
• Reporting, Analytics & KPI Management
  • Provide monthly KPI dashboards covering training volume delivered vs. plan, participant satisfaction & NPS, trainer performance ratings, curriculum delivery timelines, and budget adherence & variance.
  • Present quarterly business reviews (QBR) to senior leadership with performance insights and recommendations.
  • Ensure training program impact is linked to measurable business metrics.

Required Competencies:

• Strategic thinking with ability to execute operationally under tight timelines.
• Exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong project management discipline—able to juggle multiple priorities without loss of quality.
• Highly proactive—anticipates issues before they become problems.
• Data-driven approach to decision-making.

Mandate Expectations:

• Minimum 3-4 days/week presence at the Academy office.
• Proactive update and early internal deadlines.
• Visible ownership and high follow-through.