Associate Manager - Training

How you will make history here...

The Associate Manager, Training is responsible for leading, developing, and executing comprehensive training and development programs that support employee capability, operational excellence, and business performance within the Lakeland manufacturing facility. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Safety, Engineering, and People & Culture to assess training needs, implement effective learning solutions, and ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.

The Associate Manager, Training plays a critical role in fostering a culture of continuous learning, workforce capability development, and employee engagement. This position is responsible for ensuring employees possess the knowledge, skills, and qualifications necessary to perform their roles safely, efficiently, and effectively. The role reports directly to the Site People & Culture Manager and maintains an indirect reporting relationship with the Supply Chain Training Center of Excellence (COE).

What you will do...

• Collaborate with department heads and supervisors to assess training needs across various levels and functions within the manufacturing facility.

• Serve as a member of the Supply Chain Training Extended Leadership Team.

• Implement the Supply Chain Training Strategy as outlined by the Supply Chain Training COE.

• Own and execute site new hire orientation and onboarding programs for hourly and salaried employees.

• Design, develop, and implement training programs to address identified needs, including technical skills training, safety training, compliance training, leadership development, and other relevant topics.

• Create training materials, including presentations, manuals, videos, and interactive learning modules.

• Facilitate training sessions for employees at all levels utilizing a variety of instructional techniques to maximize engagement and knowledge retention.

• Coordinate with external training providers, subject matter experts, and vendors as needed to supplement internal training efforts.

• Evaluate training effectiveness through assessments, surveys, observations, and feedback mechanisms and implement improvements as needed.

• Maintain accurate records of training activities, attendance, qualifications, certifications, and performance metrics to ensure compliance and reporting accuracy.

• Lead and maintain site training governance processes, ensuring training standards, qualification requirements, and documentation practices are consistently applied across all departments.

• Own and administer site learning systems, including Alchemy, Redzone, and other training platforms, ensuring data accuracy, compliance, and reporting integrity.

• Develop and monitor training metrics, dashboards, and reporting to measure training effectiveness, compliance, employee readiness, and workforce capability growth.

• Partner with site leadership to support succession planning, employee development, career pathing, and leadership development initiatives.

• Serve as a member of the Operational Excellence Teamwork Pillar.

• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and regulatory requirements related to training and development and incorporate relevant updates into training programs.

• Coach a team of hourly Training Technicians by providing guidance, support, development, and performance feedback to ensure successful execution of training initiatives.

• Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and skill development by promoting opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned.

• Manage the site training budget and training-related expenditures.

• Uphold company policies and standards related to training, safety, quality, food safety, and ethical conduct at all times.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Develops and coaches others to improve performance and build organizational capability.

• Creates development opportunities and succession planning strategies.

• Holds teams accountable for training completion and skill progression.

Training & Development Expertise

• Demonstrates knowledge of adult learning principles, instructional design, and training delivery methodologies.

• Designs scalable learning solutions that support operational excellence and workforce capability.

• Evaluates training effectiveness and adjusts programs based on performance data and business needs.

Business Partnership

• Builds strong relationships with leaders across functional areas.

• Understands operational needs and aligns training strategies to business objectives.

• Acts as a trusted advisor on workforce capability, employee development, and learning strategies.

Project & Program Management

• Effectively manages multiple initiatives, timelines, and priorities.

• Drives execution of site and enterprise training programs.

• Ensures training programs are sustainable, measurable, and effective.

Continuous Improvement

• Identifies opportunities to simplify processes and improve training outcomes.

• Uses data and metrics to drive decisions and measure success.

• Supports operational excellence initiatives through workforce capability development.

Communication & Influence

• Communicates effectively with employees and leaders at all organizational levels.

• Facilitates learning in classroom, production, and virtual environments.

• Influences leaders and employees to support a culture of continuous learning and development.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Training compliance rates

• New hire onboarding completion and effectiveness

• New hire retention and time-to-proficiency

• Annual required training completion rates

• Employee qualification and certification completion

• Training system accuracy and audit performance

• Internal promotion readiness and development pipeline strength

• Plant-specific capability improvement initiatives

• Training completion within required timelines

• Reduction in retraining, qualification failures, and training-related compliance gaps

Who you will work with...

• Reporting into Sr P&C Manager

What you will bring to the table... (Must Have)

• High School Diploma or GED required

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in training and development, preferably within a manufacturing or industrial environment.

• Demonstrated expertise in instructional design, curriculum development, and adult learning principles.

• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and communicate complex information effectively.

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop employees to achieve performance goals.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• Proficiency in learning management systems and training technologies, including Alchemy, Redzone, and related platforms.

• Familiarity with regulatory requirements and industry standards related to training, safety, quality, and food manufacturing.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a data-driven approach to decision-making.

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across functions and organizational levels.

• Commitment to continuous improvement, personal development, and lifelong learning.

It would be great if you have... (Nice to Have)

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Training & Development, Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.

• Experience leading training programs within a food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods environment.

• Prior supervisory experience managing trainers, training coordinators, or training technicians.

• Knowledge of GMPs, food safety requirements, OSHA regulations, and manufacturing compliance standards.

• Experience supporting large-scale organizational change, leadership development, workforce capability initiatives, and succession planning programs.