Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Vendor Trainer

🎯 Role Definition

The Vendor Trainer is a pivotal figure in our partner ecosystem, acting as the primary conduit for knowledge transfer and skill development for our external vendor partners. This role is not just about delivering presentations; it's about building a robust, well-informed, and highly capable network of third-party teams who represent our brand and serve our customers. The Vendor Trainer is a brand ambassador, a performance consultant, and a curriculum architect, responsible for ensuring that every vendor interaction meets our high standards of quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction. Success in this position is measured by the proficiency, engagement, and performance of our vendor network.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Corporate Trainer
Instructional Designer
Vendor Relationship Manager
Senior Customer Support or Sales Specialist

Advancement To:

Senior Vendor Trainer or Training Program Manager
Partner Enablement Manager
Manager of Learning & Development
Regional or Global Training Lead

Lateral Moves:

Instructional Design Manager
Change Management Specialist
Program Manager, Vendor Operations

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and maintain a comprehensive and scalable training curriculum for external vendors, covering product knowledge, service protocols, sales methodologies, and compliance standards.
Deliver dynamic and engaging training sessions to a diverse range of vendor audiences through multiple modalities, including virtual instructor-led training (VILT), in-person workshops, and on-demand webinars.
Create and update a rich library of training materials, including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, job aids, e-learning modules, and knowledge base articles.
Manage the full lifecycle of the training process, from conducting initial needs analyses with vendor management to deploying content and evaluating its long-term impact.
Develop and implement a robust certification program to assess and validate vendor proficiency and readiness, ensuring consistent quality across the partner network.
Act as the primary training point of contact for new vendor onboarding, ensuring a smooth and effective ramp-up period that sets partners up for success.
Collaborate closely with internal subject matter experts from Product, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to ensure all training content is accurate, relevant, and up-to-date.
Utilize the Learning Management System (LMS) to schedule sessions, deploy courses, track attendance, and report on completion rates and assessment scores.
Conduct regular "train-the-trainer" sessions for vendor-side training staff to enable them to cascade learning effectively within their own organizations.
Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of training programs by gathering feedback, analyzing performance data, and measuring key business metrics pre- and post-training.
Provide ongoing coaching and performance support to vendor teams, identifying knowledge gaps and delivering targeted reinforcement training as needed.
Manage all logistical aspects of training delivery, including scheduling, resource allocation, venue coordination (for in-person sessions), and technology setup.
Stay current with the latest trends in adult learning theory, instructional design, and training technologies to continuously innovate and improve our vendor enablement programs.
Develop and distribute regular communications, such as newsletters and release notes, to keep the vendor network informed of new training opportunities and content updates.
Travel to vendor sites as needed to deliver hands-on training, build relationships, and gain firsthand insight into their operational environment.
Create and administer assessments, quizzes, and practical exercises to measure learning retention and skill application.
Analyze vendor performance data in partnership with the Vendor Management team to identify correlations between training and business outcomes.
Customize training content and delivery style to accommodate the unique cultural and business contexts of different vendor partners.
Facilitate learning through a variety of methods including group discussion, role-playing, case studies, and hands-on activities.
Serve as a subject matter expert on our company's products and processes for all vendor-related training inquiries.
Partner with the compliance department to develop and deploy mandatory training modules, ensuring the vendor network adheres to all legal and regulatory requirements.

Secondary Functions

Assist the vendor management team in partner performance reviews by providing data-driven insights on training completion, competency levels, and skill gaps.
Collaborate with the marketing team to ensure all external-facing training materials are aligned with current brand messaging and go-to-market strategies.
Pilot new training technologies, tools, and methodologies to recommend and implement improvements that enhance the learner experience and program efficiency.
Participate in cross-functional project teams to provide a training and development perspective on new product launches or process changes that will impact the vendor network.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Instructional Design: Deep understanding and practical application of adult learning principles (e.g., ADDIE, SAM) to create effective and engaging learning experiences.
LMS Administration: Proficiency with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Cornerstone, Docebo, or similar platforms for course deployment, user management, and reporting.
Content Authoring: Expertise using e-learning authoring tools like Articulate 360 (Storyline, Rise), Camtasia, or Adobe Captivate to create interactive and multimedia-rich content.
Virtual Training Platforms: Mastery of virtual delivery tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex, including their features for engagement like breakout rooms, polls, and whiteboards.
Presentation Software: Advanced skills in Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, or similar tools to create visually compelling and professional training decks.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Ability to track, analyze, and report on training effectiveness using data from the LMS and other sources to demonstrate ROI.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Presentation and Facilitation Skills: The ability to command a room (virtual or in-person), engage diverse audiences, and make complex information easy to understand and retain.
Superb Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively to different levels of an organization.
Relationship Building: A natural ability to build rapport and establish trust with external partners and internal stakeholders, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Adaptability and Flexibility: The capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment, adjusting training content and delivery methods on the fly to meet audience needs.
Cultural Awareness: High emotional intelligence and sensitivity to cultural nuances, essential for training a global or diverse vendor network.
Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying potential learning barriers and creative in finding effective solutions to improve knowledge transfer and performance.
Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple training projects simultaneously, from conception to completion, on time and within budget.
Coaching and Feedback: Skill in providing constructive, actionable feedback to learners and vendor leadership in a way that motivates improvement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree in a relevant field or a professional training certification (e.g., CPTD, CPLP).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Adult Education & Corporate Training
Instructional Design
Human Resources or Organizational Development
Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of direct experience in a training and development role.

Preferred:

At least 2-3 years of experience specifically focused on training external partners, clients, or a channel sales network in a B2B context.
Demonstrable experience managing the full training lifecycle, from needs analysis and instructional design through to delivery and evaluation.
A proven track record of improving partner performance or key business metrics through targeted training initiatives.