Plant Learning & Development Lead

Ford • Kansas City, MO

5d • $72,480 - $121,440 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ford Motor Company is looking for a Training & Development Lead to drive performance consulting within one of our Manufacturing plants. In this role, you will be the architect of workplace learning, responsible for upskilling both hourly and salaried employees. You will ensure our workforce has the technical skills required to achieve business objectives while maintaining the delicate balance between training needs and production schedules.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Performance Technology, Human Resources, Adult Education, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in planning, organizing, and implementing training programs in an industrial, corporate, or complex operational environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with exceptional Excel skills (e.g., data analysis, pivot tables, and reporting).
• Strong problem-solving abilities, high tolerance for ambiguity, and a proven ability to build trust and collaborate with diverse workgroups.
• Exceptional verbal and written English communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas and operational processes clearly to varied audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working in a high-volume manufacturing, automotive, or plant environment with an understanding of production cycles.
• Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a unionized workforce.
• Prior experience in a managerial, supervisory, or team lead capacity.
• The ability to pivot quickly when production schedules change and manage multiple high-priority deliverables under pressure.
• Experience defining project scope, managing deliverables, and driving projects to on-time completion.
• A strong aptitude for using data to draw objective conclusions and determine the best course of action, even in ambiguous situations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive training needs analyses at the individual, department, and plant levels to identify skill gaps.
• Develop and implement the annual training plan, ensuring alignment with plant business objectives and the Ford Manufacturing Training System.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs through rigorous data collection, analysis, and reporting to drive continuous improvement.
• Manage the end-to-end coordination of training for new hires (orientation) and existing employees, ensuring efficient scheduling that maintains production targets.
• Oversee the logistics of learning, including scheduling instructors, presenters, and training facilities.
• Manage the training tracking system to ensure accurate records, reporting, and certification status for internal/external trainers and coaches.
• Manage education and training budgets, including forecasting needs and obtaining necessary funding to support the annual plan.
• Monitor training completion against the plan to ensure compliance with internal standards and safety requirements.
• Maintain audit-ready training records to ensure effective tracking and regulatory compliance.
• Lead and facilitate plant training committees, including the Training Steering Committee, Technical Skills Committee, and Vertical Teams.
• Build effective working relationships across the plant, acting as a trusted advisor to leadership and a resource for the union workforce.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more
• Family building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service

What This Job Offers

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