Learning and Development Manager

First Quality • Anderson, SC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

First Quality is seeking a Learning and Development Manager for its First Quality Print & Packaging facility in Anderson, South Carolina. The role ensures the business unit has the skills and leadership needed to operate safely and effectively, now and in the future. It owns learning systems from onboarding and operator qualification through required safety and quality training, develops supervisors and salaried leaders, and builds talent pipelines through succession planning and career pathways. The manager partners with operations to address performance gaps and leads engagement, recognition, and change efforts connected to business goals. Success is measured through faster time to competency, fewer skill-related safety and quality issues, lower early turnover, stronger frontline leadership, and readiness for critical roles.

The role works across the office, training room, and production floor. Production environments include noise, moving equipment, and temperature changes, and require PPE. The manager must stand and walk for extended periods and move throughout the plant. Flexible hours are required to reach all shifts, including occasional early mornings and nights. Occasional travel to other sites, schools, or conferences is required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Education, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in training, learning and development, or HR, including at least 2 years in a manufacturing or industrial setting.
• Experience designing and facilitating training for hourly employees and leaders.
• Working knowledge of OSHA training requirements and training recordkeeping.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and communication skills across all levels, from the production floor to plant leadership.
• Proficiency with an LMS and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to build trust and credibility on the production floor.
• Ability to use data to diagnose problems and demonstrate results.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities with attention to detail.
• Ability to lead change and influence without direct authority.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and move throughout the plant.
• Ability to work flexible hours to reach all shifts, including occasional early mornings and nights.
• Ability to travel occasionally to other sites, schools, or conferences.
• Ability to wear required PPE in production areas.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Lean or continuous improvement, including job instruction or TWI.
• Certification such as ATD CPTD, SHRM-CP, or a Lean or Six Sigma belt.
• Experience running engagement surveys and leading action planning.
• Experience building apprenticeship programs or school partnerships.
• Supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate onboarding and orientation for hourly and salaried employees.
• Develop job-specific training for operators, technicians, and maintenance employees using standard work and job-instruction methods.
• Maintain skills matrices and certification sign-offs for qualifications on lines, machines, and processes.
• Select, train, and certify floor trainers and maintain consistent training across shifts.
• Partner with EHS on safety training, including lockout/tagout, powered industrial trucks, hazard communication, confined space, and PPE.
• Administer the LMS or training records system, track completions and refresher cycles, and maintain audit-ready records.
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits by providing training documentation.
• Design and facilitate leadership programs for supervisors, leads, and salaried leaders.
• Onboard newly promoted supervisors in coaching, feedback, conflict, and fair policy application.
• Coach individual leaders and develop Individual Development Plans in partnership with leaders.
• Partner with the Operations Director and HRBP on succession planning for critical roles and identifying high-potential employees.
• Build career pathways, including operator-to-lead-to-supervisor pathways and maintenance skill tiers.
• Manage apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and partnerships with technical schools, community colleges, and universities.
• Build meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships with local universities.
• Train team members in problem-solving and Lean tools, including 5S, root cause analysis, A3, and Kaizen.
• Update training and standard work to sustain process changes and identify areas for improvement.
• Partner with plant leaders to diagnose performance gaps and determine when training is the appropriate solution.
• Manage the training budget, outside vendors, and scheduling around production and shift patterns.
• Supervise and develop training ambassadors.
• Coach leaders in discussing engagement results with teams and creating specific action plans; track follow-through.
• Use stay interviews, exit interview data, and early-turnover trends to identify and address engagement problems.
• Build two-way communication channels, including shift huddles, leadership roundtables, and suggestion systems.
• Help leaders explain the reasons behind business decisions, especially during change, and ensure information reaches every shift in practical formats.
• In partnership with HR, design and manage recognition programs tied to safety, quality, attendance, improvement ideas, and company culture.
• Coach supervisors on frequent, specific, in-the-moment recognition and support a respectful, inclusive workplace through training, onboarding, and leader expectations.
• Own the first 90 days of the employee experience, including structured 45- and 90-day check-ins, and partner with leaders to identify and address early turnover risks.
• Translate company values into observable leader behaviors and incorporate them into leadership programs.
• Model and teach expectations for respect, accountability, and safety ownership; gather 360-degree or upward feedback and use it in development plans.
• Support major changes, such as new equipment, systems, schedules, or reorganizations, with training, communication plans, and leader talking points.
• Prepare frontline leaders to answer questions and manage resistance on their crews.
• Coordinate community involvement, volunteer events, and school or workforce outreach.
• Promote wellbeing resources, partner with benefits on useful programs, and recruit and support employee committees.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities.
• Paid time off (three-week minimum).
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting day one.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Paid parental leave.
• Child and family care assistance through a dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2,500.
• Bundle of Joy benefit: a year's worth of free diapers for team members with a new baby.
• Tuition assistance.
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums.

What This Job Offers

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