Director, Technical Training and Development - Operations

Director, Technical Training And Development - Operations

Fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.

With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife's portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes : fairlife ultra-filtered milk , Core Power High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife nutrition plan , a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.

Job Purpose

The Director of Technical Training and Development will lead the strategy and execution of all job-related training across fairlife's manufacturing network. This role is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive Training and Development roadmap, including the Learning Management System (LMS) and training tools used to onboard, train, and upskill operators, technicians, mechanics, and leaders. The Director will oversee the training teams at each site, ensuring consistent delivery and effectiveness of training programs. Additionally, this role will maintain ownership of skills matrices and capability assessments, and oversee external technical training programs to equip the operations teams with the skills and competencies necessary for achieving operational excellence.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a strategic Training and Development roadmap that addresses workforce skill gaps, optimizes training processes, and leverages current systems to effectively train employees across all manufacturing sites.

Design and implement comprehensive skills assessments to identify training needs and gaps, ensuring tailored training solutions that foster workforce capability and readiness.

Lead a team of training professionals by providing mentorship, guidance, and performance management to ensure high-quality training delivery and support for continuous development of the team.

Advance the implementation of LMS (learning management system) to organize training records, materials, and standards, ensuring accuracy and easy access for compliance and development tracking.

Collaborate with technical stakeholders and equipment suppliers to develop and deliver technical training routines that equip employees with essential competencies for operating and maintaining equipment.

Coordinate with plant directors and key stakeholders to ensure that training programs are delivered, and employees are qualified to perform the operations for which they have been trained.

Partner with OEMs and technical teams to translate complex technical information into accessible training materials, such as SOPs, instructional videos, and other supporting documents.

Routinely evaluate training program effectiveness and stay up to date on training trends to ensure the organization's training initiatives remain relevant and align with employee development needs.

Monitor and benchmark training metrics and KPIs to track the effectiveness of training initiatives, identifying opportunities for improvement and ensuring training aligns with overall business performance metrics.

Ensure compliance with regulatory training requirements by collaborating with the legal and safety teams to ensure that all training programs meet necessary safety, environmental, and operational regulations.

Drive the standardization of training programs across all facilities to ensure consistency in the knowledge and skills of employees, regardless of location.

Collaborate with Operations Leadership, HR, and Talent Management to align training and development initiatives with broader talent development strategies, ensuring the right skills are developed for current and future operational needs.

Oversee the training department budget by allocating resources effectively, managing expenditures, and ensuring that all training initiatives are delivered within budget while maximizing return on investment.

Skills / Qualifications Required

Bachelor's Degree in related field required

7+ years of progressive experience developing and deploying training programs

5+ years of people management experience

Strong background in instructional design and curriculum development.

Strong communication tools and the ability to collaborate with SMEs and department leadership

Ability to work independently and manage projects and timelines

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Proactive, adaptable, detail-oriented and results-driven

Ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.

Strong analytical and critical thinking skills

Familiarity with traditional and modern training methods within a manufacturing environment including but not limited to mentoring, coaching, on-the-job or in classroom training, e-learning, workshops, and simulations

Strategic mindset, ability to develop and execute complex strategies

Ability to flex schedule as needed to meet training needs across all shifts

Ability to create learning paths and supporting training materials

Proficient in MS Office Suite

Experience with a Learning management System, eLearning authoring tools (Captivate, Lectora, Articulate, iSpring) and video editing software are a plus

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

Time requirement- 40 hours a week with the ability to flex shift as needed

Possible 3 hours sitting / 3 hours standing / 2 hours walking

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Reaching / bending

Exposure to hazards (machinery, confined spaces, etc.)

Specific atmospheric conditions AMMONIA / PAA

Food Safety Requirements

Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.

Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.

Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and / or Government requirements / standards as prioritized by the Company.

Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.

Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.

Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.

In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

Position Location

Webster, NY; Coopersville, MI; or Goodyear, AZ

Reports To

Senior Director of Operational Excellence

Travel Requirements

50%

Exempt / Nonexempt

Exempt