Director of Operations Learning& Development
Position Summary
The Director, Learning & Development (L&D) is responsible for designing, leading, and executing the Operations learning strategy for a multi-site manufacturing organization and oversees all training programs, systems, and capability-building initiatives across a multi-site manufacturing network.
Major Duties And Responsibilities
Develop and execute a comprehensive L&D strategy aligned to manufacturing operational priorities, including safety, quality, productivity, and leadership capability.
Establish governance for all training programs, including standards, documentation, certification requirements, and audit readiness.
Create and maintain Operations learning requirements, training matrices, and capability frameworks for all manufacturing roles.
Conduct regular learning needs assessments and develop training plans accordingly.
Leadership & Team Management
Lead, coach, and develop a distributed L&D team supporting both corporate and plant-level learning needs.
Build team capability in instructional design, facilitation, technical training, LMS management and reporting, and change management.
Create a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the L&D function.
Provide ongoing coaching, career development, and succession planning for the L&D team.
Training Program Ownership
Own the full lifecycle of all Operations training programs—from design and development to delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
Oversee technical training programs including equipment operation, safety, GMPs, sanitation, quality systems, and standard work.
Work in close collaboration with Corporate L&D on the development and execution of leadership development programs for Operations.
Ensure all training content is current, validated, and aligned with regulatory, customer, and internal requirements.
Build and maintain structured onboarding programs for hourly, supervisory, and professional roles.
Implement certification and re-certification processes for critical roles (operators, maintenance, quality techs).
Partner with SMEs to develop job-specific training, work instructions, and skill assessments.
Training Systems & Technology Ownership
Serve as the owner of Operations Learning systems (i.e., POKA, Alchemy, Vector), including configuration, governance, reporting, and user experience.
Ensure accurate training records, compliance tracking, and audit readiness.
Oversee the implementation and optimization of digital learning tools (e-learning, microlearning, VR/AR, mobile learning).
Develop dashboards and analytics to measure training effectiveness, completion rates, and capability gaps.
Standardize training documentation, templates, and digital workflows across all plants.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as a strategic advisor to Manufacturing VPs, Plant Managers, Training Managers, HR Business Partners, and functional leaders on learning effectiveness.
Build strong relationships across manufacturing sites to understand needs and ensure consistent execution.
Partner with HR, Safety, Quality, and Operations to integrate learning into business processes and performance systems.
Work in collaboration with Corporate L&D to ensure an aligned approach to L&D frameworks and programs.
Education And Experience
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in L&D, OD, or HR, with at least 5 years in a manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial environment.
Demonstrated experience owning training programs and learning systems (LMS, e-learning platforms), preferably in a manufacturing environment.