Workforce Development Leader

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

Continuous Improvement Manager

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Your role and responsibilities

The Workforce Development Leader is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive workforce training and development strategies that ensure ABB Selmer has a skilled, future-ready workforce. This role serves as the primary link between business objectives, operational needs, and employee development by creating structured training programs, career pathways, and leadership development initiatives that support safety, quality, productivity, and plant growth.

The work model for the role is :Onsite

This role is contributing to the Electrification Distribution Solutions Division in Selmer, TN.

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Develop and maintain a plant-wide training strategy aligned with business objectives and workforce needs, including standardized onboarding and orientation programs.
• Manage the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of technical training for production, maintenance, quality, engineering, and support staff, covering safety, quality, equipment, TPM, and Lean.
• Establish skills matrices and maintain accurate training records, certifications, and qualification compliance to identify gaps and development needs.
• Build partnerships with schools, technical colleges, workforce organizations, and community partners to support recruitment and support internship, apprenticeship, and co-op programs.
• Develop leadership training for supervisors, team leaders, and future plant leaders, and support succession planning and career pathways for key roles.
• Collaborate with Continuous Improvement and Operations to tie training to plant performance goals and promote a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

Qualifications for the role

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Education, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in workforce development, community relations, talent development, education partnerships, recruiting, or a related field.
• Demonstrated commitment to workforce development, community engagement, and talent pipeline creation.
• Established positive relationships with civic leaders, educational institutions, workforce development organizations, and business communities.
• Effective organizational, interpersonal, communication, presentation, and writing skills.
• Experience developing and implementing internal and external communication strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated precision in work and solid project management capabilities.
• Experienced in balancing competing priorities, maintaining composure during challenging periods, and managing confidential matters with professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Knowledge of workforce grant programs, apprenticeship models, and workforce funding opportunities.
• Experience collaborating with Tennessee workforce agencies, community colleges, or economic development organizations.
• Familiarity with talent attraction, employer branding, and employee development initiatives.

What's in it for you?

We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You’ll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that’s tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger.

Benefits

We also offer our employees the following benefits:

• ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees Go to myBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn
• Health, Life & Disability
• Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
• Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
• Vision benefit
• Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
• Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
• Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
• Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
• Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
• Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
• Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
• Employee discount program

Time off

• ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.

Retirement

• 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

More about us

ABB's Distribution Solutions Division facilitates the efficient and reliable distribution, protection and control of power by improving electric power quality while strengthening the resilience of the grid. The Division offers segment-specific products and solutions that largely serve utilities, industry and infrastructure segments, often providing the requisite medium-voltage link between high-voltage transmission systems and low-voltage users. With ABB Ability™ enabled connected solutions at its core, the offering includes medium-voltage air-and gas-insulated switchgear (1 to 66 kilovolts), indoor and outdoor circuit breakers, reclosers, fuses, contactors, relays, instrument transformers, sensors, motor control centers, as well as low-voltage switchgear for the ANSI standard markets.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.