Workforce Strategy & Development Specialist

Vulcan Elements•Durham, NC

About The Position

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency. As a Learning & Development Specialist you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the organization’s workforce training and development strategy. This role ensures all required compliance and safety training is delivered effectively while building scalable talent development programs to support long-term workforce needs. The role partners closely with internal leaders and the talent team, as well as external education partners, and economic development organizations to create and develop the framework for internships, apprenticeships, and early-career programs.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in training, learning & development, workforce development, or related roles
Experience managing compliance or regulatory training programs
Strong project management and organizational skills
Ability to collaborate across departments and with external partners
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Education, Organizational Development, Business, or related field
Experience developing internships, apprenticeships, or early-career programs
Familiarity with workforce development grants or public-private partnerships
Experience working with manufacturing environments
Knowledge of LMS platforms and training tracking systems

Responsibilities

Work with other leaders to design, implement, and maintain all mandatory training programs, including but not limited to: Safety, regulatory, and compliance training
Company-required policies and certifications
Ensure training programs meet federal, state, and local compliance requirements
Track completion, certifications, and audit readiness using LMS or internal systems
Regularly review and update training content to reflect regulatory or operational changes
Develop and manage workforce learning initiatives aligned with business needs and growth plans
Partner with leadership to assess skill gaps and future workforce requirements
Work with the People team to contribute to structured onboarding, upskilling, and reskilling programs for employees
Evaluate training effectiveness using metrics, feedback, and performance outcomes
Design and launch early-career programs such as: Internship programs Apprenticeships Work-based learning or co-op programs
Build and maintain relationships with: Local colleges, universities, and technical schools Workforce boards and economic development organizations Community and industry partners
Represent the company in workforce development initiatives, grants, or regional talent programs
Support long-term talent strategy by aligning external partnerships with organizational goals
Manage budgets, vendors, and external training partners as applicable
Collaborate with People Team, EHS, Operations, and Legal to ensure alignment and compliance
Develop policies, documentation, and standard operating procedures related to training programs
Prepare reports and updates for leadership on training outcomes and workforce initiatives
Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business