Director, Training

<strong>Job Description<br><br></strong>The Director, Training leads the strategy, design, and execution of enterprise learning, leadership development, and talent systems that drive operational excellence, leadership capability, and a best-in-class guest experience. This role oversees field training, organizational development, and learning & development to ensure all programs are strategically aligned, effectively designed, and consistently executed across the organization.<br><br>As the connection between Support Center strategy and in-store execution, this leader ensures every training solution not only builds capability but also reinforces a culture where team members deliver memorable, high-energy, and guest-first experiences.<br><br><strong>Key Responsibilities<br><br></strong><ul><li> Training Strategy & Business Alignment </li><li>Define and lead the overall training strategy aligned to business goals, operational priorities, and brand standards</li><li>Establish a clear vision for how training drives Guest experience and hospitality behaviors, leadership capability and bench strength, and operational excellence and consistency</li><li>Partner with senior leaders to identify capability gaps and prioritize high-impact learning initiatives</li><li>Ensure training supports key business drivers (guest experience, sales, retention, compliance, leadership development)</li><li>Establish a clear roadmap for leadership development, onboarding, and operational training</li><li> Team Leadership & Functional Alignment </li><li>Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team including instructional design, LMS and learning technology, and field training execution.</li><li>Create clear roles, accountability, and ways of working across the team</li><li>Ensure strong alignment between content design, system deployment, and field execution</li><li>Influence leaders across the business to take ownership of training and development within their teams</li><li> Instructional Design & Content Strategy </li><li>Set standards for instructional design, ensuring content is:</li><ul><li>Operationally relevant (FOH/BOH application)</li><li>Engaging and scalable</li><li>Aligned with adult learning principles and rooted in guest-centric behaviors</li></ul><li>Lead development of training for new initiatives & systems</li><li>Ensure existing training materials are up-to-date, accurate, and relevant</li><li>Ensure consistency across brands while allowing for operational flexibility</li><li> Learning Technology & LMS Strategy </li><li>Ensure effective deployment, tracking, and reporting of all training programs</li><li>Leverage LMS data to measure adoption, completion, and effectiveness</li><li>Partner with LMS SME to continuously improve user experience and functionality</li><li>Drive innovation in how learning is delivered (microlearning, mobile-first, in-the-moment tools)</li><li> Field Training Integration & Execution </li><li>Ensure training translates effectively from design to real-world execution in the field</li><li>Partner with Field Training Manager to:</li><ul><li>Validate that hospitality standards are being demonstrated—not just understood</li><li>Reinforce training during key moments (menu launches, peak seasons, new initiatives)</li><li>Coach leaders on how to model and reinforce hospitality behaviors with their teams</li></ul><li>Establish feedback loops from field to continuously improve training</li><li> Training Project Lifecycle Management </li><li>Establish enterprise processes for training intake, prioritization, and execution</li><li>Ensure all initiatives are delivered with clear timelines and accountability, strong stakeholder alignment, and operational readiness</li><li>Balance competing priorities to focus on highest-impact initiatives</li><li> Measurement, Insights & Continuous Improvement (Owns)</li><li>Define and track key training success metrics:</li><ul><li>Guest experience (OSAT, feedback trends)</li><li>Team member engagement and retention</li><li>Operational performance and sales</li></ul><li>Use data and insights to continuously refine training strategy and improve effectiveness<br></li></ul><strong>Qualifications<br><br></strong><ul><li>10+ years of experience in Learning & Development, Training, Operations, or related field</li><li>5+ years of leadership experience managing multi-functional training teams</li><li>Experience in hospitality, restaurant, retail, or multi-unit environments strongly preferred</li><li>Proven ability to build and execute enterprise-level learning strategies</li><li>Strong understanding of:</li><ul><li>Instructional design and adult learning</li><li>Operational execution in guest-facing environments</li><li>Learning technologies and LMS platforms</li></ul><li>Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional alignment</li><li>Strong business acumen and ability to connect training to measurable outcomes</li><li>Strong project management and prioritization skills<br></li></ul><strong>WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?:<br><br></strong>Dave & Buster’s is an imaginative and dynamic company dedicated to creating innovative entertainment experiences that bring joy, laughter, and excitement to people of all ages. Our mission is to foster a culture of fun and creativity, and we take pride in our commitment to delivering memorable and unique entertainment solutions.<br><br><ul><li>Exclusive discounts on food and games at D&B & Main Event</li><li>Paid Time Off (PTO) that increases with tenure</li><li>11 Company Holidays (Including your Birthday) & 2 Floating Holidays per year</li><li>Medical, dental, vision and voluntary benefits</li><li>Part Time/Full Time benefits available</li><li>Sub Benefits:</li><li>Livongo and Telehealth benefits</li><li>401k with company match following 6 months of employment</li><li>Buster’s Legacy Fund (Supports Team Members during difficult Times)</li><li>Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Offerings</li><li>Work out facility on-site</li><li>Employee Power Card | Free Video Games<br><br></li></ul><strong>We work hard, play hard and have FUN!<br><br></strong><strong>Salary Range<br><br></strong>127800<br><br>170000<br><br>We are an equal opportunity employer and participate in E-Verify in states where required.