Seeking help with complex (to me) job for selectively hiding columns

[ScotiaSpinner]

I have been trying to figure out this project on my own, but running into trouble, so I thought I'd try a forum. Please be gentle, I'm new here!

Here's what I have. I have a spreadsheet with columns that represent certain types of training (from column E through DK, so a lot of columns). I have rows with job titles in them (about 60). Each cell in the table has an R for "required" or N/A for "not required." Client wants to be able to click on a job title and see only the columns that contain the R. So for example, let's say job row 50 is "chief bottle washer" and that job has an R listed in "glassware safety" and "sink cleaning" and "detergent training" as the 3 required training sessions. The client wants to click on the cell containing "Chief Bottle Washer" and the all the many other training types would disappear, and just the 3 required training columns would be showing. (preferably, then, click again on chief bottle washer - or elsewhere - and the whole table comes back).

Secondarily to this, there will be names listed for each job in rows under the job title. Client also wants to be able to click on a name (listed under a certain job) and have the list of requirements show up (as described above) and then the name in the row underneath, showing which of the requirements the individual has, or hasn't, completed. So, click on Joe Smith, the Chief Bottle Washer #1, and see that he has completed glassware safety and detergent training but still needs to go learn sink cleaning.

So, I know how to do auto-filter, but that doesn't get me where I need to go with this. Do I need macros? Pivot tables? What? This is just beyond my previous experience with Excel. I've been told that MS Access would be better for this type of thing, but that is not something the client has. The spreadsheets already exist for all the positions, the training, and the R or N/A cells. I am just supposed to make them do these cool things. I'm usually a technical writer, not an Excel guru. Kind of got roped into this one without realizing it.

Any help would be very much appreciated.
Cheers,
Claire