Manufacturing L&D Leader: Lean, Leadership & Digital Skills in Newport

As our Learning and Development Leader, you will be a strategic partner responsible for designing and implementing learning programs that enhance operational effectiveness, drive continuous improvement (e.g., Lean Manufacturing), and develop leadership capabilities, preparing our teams for future success and flawless execution. The primary purpose is to align learning and development strategies with the organization's business objectives, ensuring the workforce has the necessary technical and soft skills to maximize productivity and support the internal talent pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Alignment: Aligning the site learning strategy with overall business objectives, focusing on improving performance, shaping culture, and building organizational capability and resilience.
• Skills Gap Analysis: Identifying current and future skill requirements, including for new technologies in digital manufacturing, and developing targeted programs to address these needs.
• Program Design and Delivery: Design, develop, and implement blended learning solutions (e.g., e-learning, workshops, coaching, job-shadowing) tailored to the manufacturing environment and the different job roles across our teams.
• Operational Excellence: Align all learning initiatives with Lean principles to directly impact production efficiency, visual management, error rates, and time-to-competence.
• Compliance and Safety Training: Ensure all mandatory training, such as health, safety and environmental regulations and quality standards (e.g., ISO14001), is up-to-date, delivered effectively, and accurately recorded.
• Talent and Succession Planning: Support the development of a strong internal talent pipeline by creating programs that nurture existing employees into future leaders and managers.
• Leadership Development: Build continuous development pathways for frontline and senior leaders, focusing on "human skills" like coaching, adaptability, and communication.
• Modernising Training Methods: Move beyond traditional manuals and classroom sessions to innovative and scalable learning solutions, accommodating shift work and diverse learning styles.
• Learning Effectiveness: Use leading indicators to demonstrate system effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Program Management: Lead our Apprenticeship, placement student, and work experience programs.
• Develop Partnerships: Work with our internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Industry Experience: Strong, proven experience within the manufacturing sector, providing an understanding of the unique operational challenges.
• Collaboration & Influence: Excellent communication skills to work effectively with line managers, senior leaders, and a diverse workforce to ensure buy-in and effective implementation.
• Communication and Facilitation: Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills to deliver training, coach managers, and build rapport at all levels of the organization.
• L&D Expertise: Relevant L&D qualifications, such as a CIPD qualification, would be beneficial (Pttls or Train the Trainer or equivalent qualification).
• Analytical and Problem-Solving: The ability to conduct thorough training needs analyses, interpret data (learning analytics), and implement effective solutions to performance gaps.
• Tech Literacy: Understanding digital learning tools and how to integrate technology into manufacturing processes.
• Project Management: Skills to plan, organize, and control multiple training programs within set budgets and timelines.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional stakeholder management and the ability to influence at a senior level.