Senior Manager, Learning & Development

Alteration Specialists; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Alteration Specialists in NYC is seeking a Senior Manager, Learning & Development to lead the strategy and execution of Alts Academy, focusing on a premier technical tailoring and craftsmanship training program. The role combines curriculum creation with leadership development across studio operations and central offices.

You will design certifications, coach senior tailors, and collaborate with HR and executive leadership to embed a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of Learning & Development experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Experience designing and implementing technical, skills-based, or certification-driven learning programs.
• Strong instructional design and adult learning expertise.
• Experience building structured learning pathways and competency frameworks.
• Exceptional facilitation, curriculum development, and coaching skills.
• Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.
• Experience measuring learning effectiveness through operational and business performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead Tailoring Academy development and certifications.
• Design and maintain technical certification programs.
• Collaborate with department leaders to strengthen education.
• Create assessments, certificates, and competency evaluations.
• Develop train-the-trainer programs.
• Lead Learning & Development team.
• Prioritize learning initiatives across the organization.
• Ensure alignment with business goals.

Skills

Leadership

Instructional design

Adult learning

Project management

Coaching

Facilitation

Curriculum development

Tools

LMS

Digital platforms

Job description

Senior Manager, Learning & Development

Location: In Person | NYC

Schedule: Monday - Friday

Compensation: $70,00 - $85,000

About the Role

At Alts, we're redefining the tailoring industry through exceptional craftsmanship, outstanding client experiences, and an unwavering commitment to our people.

We believe our greatest competitive advantage is our team. That's why we're investing in building one of the industry's most comprehensive learning and development organizations, one that empowers employees to continuously learn, grow, and excel throughout their careers.

As our Senior Manager, Learning & Development, you'll lead the strategy, execution, and continuous evolution of Alts Academy, with a primary focus on building the industry's premier technical tailoring and craftsmanship training program.

Approximately 75% of this role is dedicated to developing our Tailoring Academy, creating technical curriculum, certifications, skill progression, and learning experiences that elevate the craftsmanship of our Tailors, Fitter Tailors, Bridal Specialists, and Tailoring leadership teams.

The remaining 25% of the role supports learning initiatives across studio operations, leadership development, client experience, and central office functions, ensuring employees throughout the organization continue to grow and develop.

You'll partner closely with the Tailoring Development Manager, the Operations team, Human Resources, and executive leadership to build a learning culture that strengthens technical excellence, operational consistency, and long-term career development.

Our Values: S.C.O.R.E.

At Alts, our values aren't words on a wall—they're the foundation of how we lead, learn, and serve.

As the Senior Manager of Learning & Development, you'll help bring these values to life by embedding them into every learning experience, certification, coaching conversation, and leadership program.

S.C.O.R.E.

Solve with Skill & Creativity – We approach challenges with expertise, innovation, and a solutions-first mindset.

Craft with Care – We take pride in our work, paying attention to every detail and striving for excellence.

Own the Outcome – We take accountability, follow through on our commitments, and continuously improve.

Respect What Matters – We build trust through empathy, collaboration, professionalism, and respect for one another.

Elevate Every Experience – We create meaningful experiences for our clients and our teammates in every interaction.

What You'll Do

Tailoring Academy & Technical Development (Approximately 75%)

• Lead the continued development and expansion of Alts Tailoring Academy, creating one of the industry's leading technical tailoring education programs while partnering with key stakeholders.
  • Production Tailors
  • Fitter Tailors
  • Bridal Specialists
  • Tailoring Apprentices
  • Tailor Shop Managers
  • Senior Tailors
• Design and maintain technical certification programs covering:
  • Garment fitting
  • Alterations
  • Bridal alterations
  • Luxury garment construction
  • Pattern modifications
  • Pricing
  • Quality standards
  • Production techniques
  • Specialty garment categories
• Partner with Tailoring Development Manager, Tailor Shop Managers, Studio Area Managers, and subject matter experts to continuously strengthen technical education.
• Create practical assessments, certifications, and competency evaluations that ensure consistent craftsmanship across every studio.
• Develop train-the-trainer programs that prepare senior tailors and technical experts to coach and develop future talent.
• Continuously evaluate curriculum using quality metrics, production performance, certification outcomes, and operational feedback.
• Support career progression through structured certification pathways and technical skill development.

Operations, Leadership & Corporate Learning (Approximately 25%)

• Support learning initiatives that strengthen studio operations and central office teams.
• Partner with the Learning & Development Coordinator in developing onboarding and role-specific learning for:
  • Studio Operations
  • Client Experience
  • Human Resources
  • Central Office departments
• Design leadership development programs for:
  • Studio Managers
  • Tailor Shop Managers
  • Studio Area Managers
  • Corporate leaders
• Support SOP adoption through engaging, practical learning experiences.
• Partner with department leaders to identify performance gaps and implement learning solutions that improve operational consistency.
• Support organizational initiatives including compliance training, career development, and company-wide learning experiences.

Learning Design & Delivery

• Design engaging instructor-led, virtual, and digital learning experiences.
• Develop facilitator guides, participant workbooks, assessments, certifications, videos, and blended learning resources.
• Ensure curriculum reflects adult learning best practices while reinforcing Alts' technical, operational, and service standards.
• Continuously improve learning content using employee feedback, business needs, and learning analytics.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Learning & Development team.
• Manage the Alts Academy learning roadmap and prioritize learning initiatives across the organization.
• Partner with Tailoring Development, Operations, Human Resources, Client Experience, and executive leadership to ensure learning remains aligned with business goals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What Success Looks Like

You'll help drive measurable improvements in:

Tailoring Excellence

• Technical certification completion
• Tailor skill progression
• Craftsmanship consistency
• Reduced quality issues and rework
• Faster proficiency for new tailors
• Career advancement within tailoring

Learning & Development

• Onboarding effectiveness
• Leadership readiness
• Operational consistency
• Employee engagement and retention
• Internal promotions
• Learning completion
• Client experience
• Career development across the organization

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of Learning & Development experience, including leadership responsibilities.
• Experience designing and implementing technical, skills-based, or certification-driven learning programs.
• Strong instructional design and adult learning expertise.
• Experience building structured learning pathways and competency frameworks.
• Exceptional facilitation, curriculum development, and coaching skills.
• Excellent project management and organizational abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands‑on execution.
• Experience measuring learning effectiveness through operational and business performance metrics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in tailoring, apparel, fashion, luxury retail, manufacturing, hospitality, culinary, beauty, healthcare, or other craftsmanship-driven industries.
• Experience building apprenticeship, certification, or technical training programs.
• Experience supporting multi-location organizations.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital learning platforms.

Who You Are

A Builder | You enjoy creating structured learning programs that develop technical expertise and support long‑term career growth.

A Champion of Craftsmanship | You believe technical excellence is built through consistent coaching, deliberate practice, and continuous learning.

A Strategic Thinker | You understand how learning drives operational performance, employee development, and business success.

An Educator | You create engaging learning experiences that inspire confidence, capability, and measurable results.

A Collaborative Partner | You build strong relationships across departments and enjoy partnering with subject matter experts to develop exceptional learning experiences.

A Continuous Learner | You're always looking for better ways to teach, coach, innovate, and elevate organizational capability.

Why Join Alts?

At Alts, Learning & Development isn't simply a department—it's one of our greatest competitive advantages.

As our Senior Manager, Learning & Development, you'll play a pivotal role in building the future of Alts Academy and creating what we believe can become the premier technical tailoring education program in the industry.

You'll help develop the next generation of exceptional tailors, strengthen operational excellence across our studios, build meaningful certification pathways, and create learning experiences that shape careers and elevate our craft.