Talent Development Specialist - Operations

Charter Manufacturing•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

Charter Manufacturing is seeking a Talent Development Specialist to lead workforce capability and On-the-Job Training (OJT) initiatives across its manufacturing facilities. The role partners with Operations, Operational Excellence, Quality, Safety, and Digital teams to strengthen training systems, improve workforce readiness, and build sustainable capability-development practices. The specialist’s work supports employee development, plant performance, safety, quality, productivity, and operational excellence. The position leads OJT support across assigned plants, develops training plans and learning roadmaps, improves training standards and certification processes, and helps plant leaders foster a culture of learning and accountability. It also coaches frontline leaders and trainers, uses training data and observations to identify capability gaps and improvement opportunities, and manages projects across multiple manufacturing locations. Travel is required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Organizational Development, Adult Education, Engineering, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of experience in training, learning, manufacturing operations, workforce development, or Operational Excellence.
Proven success supporting or leading training programs in a manufacturing or operations environment.
Experience coaching frontline leaders, trainers, or subject matter experts.
Working knowledge of structured OJT methods, standard work, visual management, daily management systems, and training effectiveness measures.
Strong facilitation, communication, project management, and stakeholder partnership skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities across multiple sites.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and training/data management systems.
Willingness to travel.

Nice To Haves

At least 7 years of experience in manufacturing operations, workforce capability development, or Operational Excellence.
Experience with Training Within Industry (TWI), Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence systems, or structured problem-solving methodologies.
Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.
Experience with Dozuki, Learning Management Systems, or other manufacturing training platforms.
Experience using dashboards, metrics, and data to improve training effectiveness and business outcomes.

Responsibilities

Lead OJT support across assigned plants by developing and executing training plans, learning roadmaps, reporting routines, and sustainment activities.
Partner with business stakeholders and subject matter experts to align training efforts with operational goals and desired outcomes.
Drive implementation and continuous improvement of OJT standards, certification processes, workflows, and workforce capability systems.
Support plant leaders in building a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous development.
Coach frontline leaders on training accountability, trainee progress tracking, and workforce development practices.
Develop and support certified trainers in structured OJT methods, coaching techniques, and trainee verification practices.
Conduct regular shop floor observations to reinforce training execution and provide improvement feedback.
Promote effective development and coaching practices to strengthen leadership capability.
Partner with Quality and Safety teams to identify capability gaps associated with defects, safety incidents, operational risks, and training needs.
Use training data, dashboards, observations, and stakeholder feedback to identify trends and improve workforce effectiveness.
Support initiatives that improve training effectiveness, employee performance, and operational outcomes.
Translate insights into actionable recommendations that strengthen workforce capability across the organization.
Manage multiple projects and priorities across assigned manufacturing locations.
Establish milestones, deliverables, timelines, and reporting mechanisms for successful project execution.
Provide plant leaders with updates, coaching insights, and training performance metrics.
Share best practices across sites while promoting consistency in training and capability-building processes.