Training Manager, Manufacturing Operations

Kanto Corporation•Portland, OR

3d•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Training Manager, Manufacturing Operations leads Kanto Corporation’s training, qualification, and workforce-development programs for employees in Production, Warehouse, Logistics, Material Handling, and other manufacturing-floor functions. The role builds and maintains systems that take employees from onboarding through demonstrated proficiency and independent qualification, in partnership with Operations leaders, supervisors, qualified trainers, technical specialists, and subject-matter experts. This hands-on position maintains a significant presence on the manufacturing floor. The Training Manager develops and delivers training programs and materials, prepares and evaluates internal trainers, monitors employee qualification progress, identifies skill gaps, and continuously improves training effectiveness. The position is accountable for demonstrated employee competence, operational readiness, and measurable improvements in workforce performance. The role oversees technical training in chemical manufacturing and related processes, manages competency-based on-the-job training and qualification, develops internal trainers, maintains training documentation and records, measures training effectiveness, and integrates applicable environmental, health, safety, process-safety, chemical-hygiene, regulatory, and quality requirements into training.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in training and development, operations, manufacturing, or a related field; equivalent directly relevant experience may be considered.
7–8+ years of progressive experience developing, writing, implementing, and delivering employee training programs within manufacturing or industrial operations.
Prior manufacturing management or supervisory experience, including direct responsibility for frontline production, warehouse, logistics, material handling, technical, or similar employees.
Demonstrated experience developing and managing structured OJT and employee qualification programs.
Significant experience personally training frontline manufacturing employees in a production-floor environment.
Experience developing technical training materials, qualification standards, assessments, and training documentation.
Experience coaching and developing supervisors, leads, subject-matter experts, or designated OJT trainers.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, adult learning principles, OJT programs, and competency-based training.
Demonstrated ability to develop, deliver, and evaluate effective classroom and hands-on training programs.
Strong leadership and coaching skills, including the ability to develop and support OJT Trainers, Leads, Supervisors, and subject-matter experts.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills across all organizational levels.
Strong organizational, project-management, problem-solving, and prioritization skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Ability to develop and maintain training documentation, qualification records, training matrices, assessments, and compliance records.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and ability to partner effectively with Production, Operations, Quality, Safety, and HR.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, learning management systems (LMS), and other training and business technology.
Ability to work in an industrial production environment handling moving mechanical parts and toxic, flammable, and corrosive liquid and fuming chemicals.
Ability to use full-body clean room attire, including head and face coverings, and full-body PPE, including a hood-style respirator.
Ability to occasionally work in high, precarious places accessed by ladders, scaffolding, and powered lift trucks.
Ability to walk or stand for long periods, with brief periods of sitting.
Ability to lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs. without assistance.
Ability to periodically bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs, ladders, or scaffolding.

Nice To Haves

Semiconductor or high-purity chemicals industry experience as an operator or technician is highly preferred.
Experience in chemical manufacturing, semiconductor supply chain, high-purity manufacturing, regulated manufacturing, or another technically complex manufacturing environment.
Experience with competency matrices, progressive qualification systems, technical certifications, and train-the-trainer programs.
Experience working within Quality, Safety, or similarly controlled manufacturing systems.
Lean/Six Sigma, instructional-design, professional training, or related certification.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of technical training and qualification programs for Production, ISO/Chemical Sampling, Material Handling, Warehouse/Logistics, and other manufacturing functions.
Establish structured training pathways covering onboarding, OJT, demonstrated proficiency, independent qualification, cross-training, and ongoing development.
Develop standardized curricula, instructional materials, competency assessments, Technical Qualification Matrices, and proficiency standards, including Operator Levels 1, 2, and 3.
Partner with Operations, Quality, EHS, Engineering, and other technical leaders to identify skill gaps and align training priorities with operational demands, staffing needs, and business objectives.
Maintain a strong manufacturing-floor presence, personally deliver technical training, and keep programs aligned with evolving equipment, processes, procedures, and customer requirements.
Oversee technical training in chemical manufacturing, material preparation, mixing, blending, dilution, filtration, chemical transfer, packaging, and related production processes.
Establish competency requirements for safe equipment operation, setup, monitoring, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance.
Develop hands-on instruction covering chemical identification, handling, measurement, process sequencing, contamination prevention, and safe material transfer.
Manage the competency-based OJT and employee qualification framework, including training assignments, proficiency milestones, practical assessments, and authorization for independent work.
Coordinate structured instruction through qualified Trainers, Leads, Supervisors, Specialists, and designated subject-matter experts.
Ensure OJT includes demonstration, guided practice, observation, constructive feedback, and documented verification of employee proficiency.
Establish standards for selecting, qualifying, certifying, and maintaining internal manufacturing trainers.
Develop and deliver train-the-trainer programs covering adult learning principles, instructional techniques, hands-on demonstrations, coaching, and competency assessment.
Coach Trainers, Leads, Supervisors, and technical subject-matter experts to support effective, consistent instruction across manufacturing functions and shifts.
Develop and maintain standardized OJT curricula, training plans, Technical Qualification Matrices, KPA Certification Forms, competency assessments, and qualification records.
Maintain centralized tracking of employee training assignments, completion, certifications, proficiency, recertification, and outstanding requirements.
Establish measurable training performance indicators focused on demonstrated employee competence, operational readiness, and sustained on-the-job performance.
Monitor training completion, time-to-proficiency, productivity, qualification attainment, errors and rework, safety performance, and cross-training capability.
Conduct floor observations and performance assessments to identify skill gaps, inconsistent work practices, and opportunities for improved instruction.
Integrate applicable EHS, process safety, chemical hygiene, regulatory, and quality requirements into technical training programs.
Reinforce safe chemical handling, hazard recognition, PPE requirements, emergency response procedures, and stop-work authority.