Learning & Development Specialist in Runcorn

Company Overview

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant‑based oils, employing more than 4,000 people across the globe. We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra‑creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet. Everything we do is about Making Better Happen™.

Location

This position is based in Runcorn, UK. AAK Runcorn is the home to AAK Foods, a major manufacturer and supplier of sauces, condiments and dressings to the retail and foodservice sectors. Our private label work has won awards for taste and quality, and our products can be found on the shelves of stores throughout the world. From our site on Davy Road, to the east of the town centre, we work with customers to co‑develop new recipes for grocery private label products, retail restaurants, quick service restaurants, foodservice and food ingredients.

About The Role

AAK Foods are seeking to appoint a Learning & Development Specialist to join the HR team. Reporting to the HR Manager, you will work closely with key stakeholders across health & safety, technical, production and engineering to support and deliver the site’s learning and development objectives. The role offers a strong level of autonomy, allowing the successful candidate to develop and shape the site’s learning strategy while ensuring that training initiatives support operational capability, compliance requirements, and continuous improvement across the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Training Needs Analysis (TNA) process with key stakeholders to identify training requirements aligned with job roles, industry standards, customer expectations, and legislative requirements.
• Translate the outcomes of the TNA into a structured site training plan aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives.
• Manage the delivery of the training plan, coordinating learners, training providers, e‑learning platforms and certification processes.
• Monitor progress through KPI reporting and regular engagement with key stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of training objectives.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate learning interventions designed to enhance operational capability while ensuring learner proficiency and regulatory compliance.
• Apply financial oversight to the training budget, ensuring effective return on investment through value‑driven training solutions and measurable learning outcomes.
• Create and oversee the development of learning content suitable for adult learning environments, using effective instructional design principles for classroom, virtual, and digital delivery.
• Deliver in‑house training with professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm to achieve defined learning objectives.
• Participate in internal and external audits, ensuring training systems meet customer codes of practice, industry standards, and legal requirements.

About You

• Proven experience within a learning and development role, ideally within a food manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience conducting competency assessments and developing learning solutions that address critical skills, knowledge and behavioural gaps.
• Degree in Human Resources, Learning & Development, or a related field, or extensive practical experience in learning and development.
• Strong interest in learning technologies or competency frameworks, with the opportunity to further develop these areas within the organisation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong systems capability.
• Familiarity with e‑learning authoring tools such as Articulate 360, FlexiQuiz or Powerplus is advantageous.
• Experience with competency‑based learning frameworks and training needs analysis.
• Ability to design and develop effective training solutions using instructional design principles.
• Experience evaluating training effectiveness and driving continuous improvement.

In return AAK offers

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Company pension scheme (1% employee / 7% employer contribution).
• UK healthcare scheme including gym and lifestyle discounts.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Performance‑based bonus scheme.
• Life assurance cover.
• Free hot drinks and on‑site parking.
• On‑site canteen serving hot food.
• Investment in training and development to support career progression.

Contact and Information

For further information about the position, please contact Emily Lumb, Talent Acquisition Specialist by email: emily.lumb@aak.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of employment or application for employment.