Training Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Training Specialist is responsible for coordinating, facilitating, tracking, and continuously improving training for temporary employees, new hires, and existing operations employees (including entire plant team such as safety, quality, production, warehouse, maintenance). The position partners closely with Operations leadership, Corporate Training Team, trainers, HR, and subject matter experts to ensure employees receive consistent and effective training experience from onboarding through demonstrated job proficiency.

The Training Specialist maintains skills checklists and departmental skills matrices for all employees, coordinates trainer assignments, tracks employee progression toward proficiency, facilitates the Nourish learning curriculum, and provides reporting on training completion and workforce capability. The position also trains employees on SOPs and work instructions, participates in the development and improvement of SOPs and training materials, and develops trainers and managers to ensure training is delivered consistently across departments and shifts.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES:

• Temporary Employee & New Hire Training: Coordinate and facilitate training for temporary employees and new hires, ensuring employees understand LiDestri expectations and receive the foundational and job-specific training necessary to safely and successfully perform their roles.
• Onboarding & Training Progression: Partner with Operations and HR throughout the onboarding process to ensure each new employee has an appropriate trainer, a defined training plan, and the support necessary to progress from initial training through demonstrated proficiency.
• Skills Checklists & Skills Matrix: Own and maintain employee proficiency checklists, qualification records, and departmental skills matrices. Ensure records accurately reflect employee capabilities, completed training, proficiency levels, and outstanding development needs.
• Proficiency & Follow-Up: Track employee progress using established proficiency checklists and assessments, including appropriate 30/60/90-day milestones. Identify employees requiring additional coaching or retraining and partner with Operations to close identified skill gaps. This builds on the proficiency assessment approach in the existing positions.
• Trainer Assignment & Effectiveness: Partner with Operations leaders to ensure qualified trainers are assigned to employees, and training expectations are understood. Monitor the effectiveness and consistency of on-the-job training and address gaps with trainers and leadership.
• Train-the-Trainer: Train and coach designated trainers, supervisors, and managers on LiDestri training expectations, curriculum, documentation, adult learning practices, coaching techniques, and proficiency standards to ensure a consistent training experience across departments and shifts.
• Nourish Curriculum Facilitation: Facilitate assigned Nourish learning curriculum and instructor-led programs for employees, trainers, supervisors, and managers, creating an engaging learning environment that supports knowledge transfer and application.
• SOP & Work Instruction Training: Coordinate and deliver training on SOPs, work instructions, job aids, process changes, and other standardized operating procedures. Ensure employees are appropriately trained when new or revised procedures are implemented.
• SOP & Training Material Development: Partner with Operations, subject matter experts, Quality, Safety, and the Learning team to identify missing or ineffective SOPs, work instructions, checklists, and job aids. Participate in developing and improving these materials to ensure they accurately reflect the work and can be effectively used for training.
• Training Tracking & Reporting: Maintain accurate training records and provide regular reporting on training completion, new-hire progression, proficiency, skills coverage, retraining, qualification status, and identified workforce capability gaps.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree preferred, or a combination of relevant education and 3+ years of experience facilitating training to diverse adult learners , consistent with the existing Training Specialist requirements.
• Previous manufacturing or operations training experience strongly preferred; food manufacturing experience is a plus.
• Strong facilitation skills with the ability to effectively deliver both classroom and hands-on plant-floor training.
• Demonstrated ability to coach employees and trainers and provide constructive feedback.