Learning & Development Specialist

EXEMPT (Y/N): 

DEPARTMENT: Human Resource

REPORTS TO: Human Resource Manager 

LOCATION: Sumter, SC 

• Lead the creation and execution of the plant’s Learning & Development strategy, training roadmap, and workforce capability plan for a new manufacturing start-up environment. 
• Build training programs, processes, tools, documentation, and governance structures from scratch to support plant readiness, production ramp-up, compliance, and long-term scalability. 
• Apply the ADDIE instructional design model Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate to create structured, effective, and measurable learning solutions. 
• Analyze organizational, departmental, job-specific, technical, safety, quality, and compliance training needs in partnership with leadership, subject matter experts, and frontline employees. 
• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments through observation, surveys, interviews, skills gap analyses, performance data, incident trends, audit findings, and operational readiness requirements. 
• Design training programs aligned with business objectives, operational requirements, job qualification standards, SOPs, regulatory expectations, and adult learning principles. 
• Develop instructional materials including facilitator guides, participant materials, job aids, standard work instructions, quick-reference guides, e-learning content, assessments, training matrices, onboarding materials, and qualification checklists. 
• Partner with Operations, EHS, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and other subject matter experts to develop and maintain technical, safety, compliance, quality, leadership, and role-specific training programs. 
• Support the development, rollout, and training of SOPs as they are being established, revised, and implemented in real time across the plant. 
• Ensure training content is practical, accurate, accessible, and aligned with current plant processes, equipment, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements. 
• Implement instructor-led training, hands-on training, workshops, onboarding programs, train-the-trainer sessions, skill development initiatives, leadership development programs, and qualification-based training. 
• Facilitate learning across multiple shifts and employee groups while ensuring consistent training delivery, accessibility, and documentation. 
• Establish and manage new hire onboarding programs that accelerate workforce readiness, safety awareness, plant culture, productivity, and job-specific competency. 
• Create and maintain training matrices by role, department, certification requirement, SOP, equipment type, and compliance category. 
• Manage and oversee the day-to-day operation of the organization’s Learning Management System, including course assignments, employee access, training records, completion tracking, reporting, certification management, and system stability across diverse manufacturing shifts. 
• Monitor expiration dates for critical safety, compliance, equipment, and technical certifications, providing automated alerts and reporting to supervisors before lapses occur. 
• Maintain accurate training documentation, records, and reporting in alignment with company standards, audit requirements, regulatory expectations, and internal compliance requirements. 
• Evaluate training effectiveness through assessments, employee feedback, supervisor input, observation, performance metrics, quality data, safety trends, audit results, productivity measures, and operational outcomes. 
• Use training data and business metrics to identify gaps, recommend improvements, and drive continuous improvement of learning programs, SOP training, job qualification processes, and employee performance. 
• Develop scalable learning systems that support growth as the plant expands, adds equipment, increases headcount, and matures operational processes. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support workforce development, succession planning, leadership capability, employee engagement, and career pathing initiatives. 
• Support the integration of emerging learning technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, simulations, digital work instructions, mobile learning, and blended learning solutions for hands-on manufacturing and equipment training. 
• Establish trainer qualification standards and support the development of internal subject matter experts, certified trainers, mentors, and on-the-job training resources. 
• Ensure all training programs reinforce safety, quality, compliance, accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement. 
• Serve as a strategic partner to plant leadership by identifying workforce capability risks, recommending training solutions, and supporting operational readiness during plant launch and production ramp-up. 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Learning & Development, Training, Organizational Development, Manufacturing Training, or a related field. 
• Strong experience building training programs, systems, processes, and documentation in a start-up, greenfield, high-growth, or rapidly changing environment strongly preferred. 
• Manufacturing, industrial, production, logistics, distribution, or plant operations experience strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience applying the ADDIE instructional design model and adult learning principles to assess, design, develop, implement, and evaluate training programs. 
• Proven ability to create training materials from the ground up, including SOP-based training, technical training, job aids, assessments, qualification checklists, facilitator guides, and e-learning content. 
• Experience supporting SOP implementation, compliance training, safety training, quality systems training, technical skills training, and new hire onboarding in an operational environment. 
• Strong LMS administration experience, including course creation, training assignments, reporting, certification tracking, training records, and system troubleshooting. 
• Ability to partner effectively with Operations, EHS, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and senior leadership. 
• Strong facilitation, presentation, coaching, and train-the-trainer skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, urgent training needs, and evolving requirements in a fast-paced plant start-up environment. 
• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills. 
• Ability to work independently, influence without authority, and move work forward in an environment where processes are still being defined. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with LMS platforms, e-learning authoring tools, digital learning platforms, and training data/reporting tools preferred. 
• Experience with Articulate, Captivate, Power BI, SharePoint, Teams, virtual training tools, or similar platforms preferred. 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliance, documentation accuracy, and operational excellence. 

• Start-up mindset with the ability to build, adapt, and improve quickly. 
• Strong manufacturing floor presence and ability to translate operational processes into practical training. 
• High sense of urgency and ability to support real-time training needs during plant launch and production ramp-up. 
• Ability to simplify complex technical information for frontline employees. 
• Strong change management skills and ability to support employees through evolving processes and SOPs. 
• Data-driven approach to measuring training effectiveness and workforce readiness. 
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.