Director, Skilled Trade Development

Default • Chattanooga, TN

1d

About The Position

The Director of Skilled Trade Development leads the development, coordination, and delivery of skilled trade training programs that strengthen the company’s manufacturing workforce. This role is responsible for building a sustainable pipeline of qualified trades talent—including welders, machinists, maintenance technicians, fabricators, and electricians—through apprenticeship programs, technical upskilling, partnerships with trade schools, and standardized training frameworks across all manufacturing sites. The Director collaborates closely with Plant Leadership, Operations, HR, and Engineering to ensure skilled trade capabilities align with safety, quality, and production requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of manufacturing or skilled trade workforce development experience with leadership responsibility.
• Experience designing technical assessment and training programs for manufacturing and production personnel.
• Able to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Microsoft Office Skills.
• Project Management experience.
• Manufacturing and technical acumen
• Workforce planning and pipeline development
• Program design and execution
• Stakeholder and partnership management
• Leadership and team development
• Data-driven decision making
• Strong communication and plant ‑ floor presence

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing and managing DOL-registered apprenticeship programs preferred.
• Certifications in training/instruction – preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage skilled trade development strategies that support current and future manufacturing workforce needs.
• Develop multi-year workforce plans for critical trades roles aligned with plant capacity, production goals, and succession needs.
• Standardize trade-specific competencies, certification pathways, and career progression models across all manufacturing locations.
• Build and oversee apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and cross-training programs in welding, machining, industrial maintenance, electrical systems, fabrication, and related disciplines.
• Ensure alignment with OSHA requirements, industry standards, and applicable apprenticeship regulations.
• Oversee hands-on, instructor-led, and on-the-job training programs tailored to plant operations.
• Establish partnerships with technical colleges, high schools, trade programs, workforce agencies, and veterans' organizations.
• Represent the company in manufacturing and workforce development forums.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to support skilled trades hiring.
• Lead program implementation across manufacturing sites ensuring consistency and measurable outcomes.
• Track metrics including certification rates, time-to-competency, retention, and internal mobility.
• Work with Plant Managers and HR to identify skill gaps and prioritize training.
• Lead and develop training coordinators, instructors, and apprenticeship specialists.
• Coach plant trainers and mentors.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on skilled trades and labor market trends.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director