Learning and Development Lead

Acorn by Synergie; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Acorn by Synergie partners with a successful manufacturing business to recruit an experienced Learning & Development Lead in Barnstaple. You will shape the L&D strategy, build capability across operations and drive a culture of continuous learning to improve performance.

This role blends strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, coaching managers, leading onboarding, and using data to measure training impact in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in Learning & Development within manufacturing/industrial environments.
• 5+ years in L&D, Talent Development or Organisational Development roles.
• Designing and delivering engaging training programmes.
• Strong facilitation, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting leadership and management development.
• Data-driven decision-making approach.
• Experience using learning management systems and digital platforms (Insights, MBTI, DiSC, Hogan).
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Education, OD, Psychology or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead learning and development initiatives across Operations and HR.
• Develop and deliver the site’s L&D strategy.
• Identify skills gaps and implement development solutions.
• Design and facilitate leadership and management training programmes.
• Support succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Coach managers to build high-performing teams and strengthen people management.
• Lead onboarding and induction programmes for new employees.
• Manage training compliance, learning records and development pathways.
• Evaluate learning effectiveness and drive continuous improvement with data.
• Build relationships across Operations, Quality, HR and senior leadership.

Skills

Learning & Development

Facilitation

Coaching

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

Learning Management Systems

Insights

MBTI

DiSC

Hogan

Job description

Learning & Development Lead | L&D Lead | Learning and Development Manager

Barnstaple | Competitive salary

Introduction

Acorn by Synergie is delighted to be partnering with a successful manufacturing business to recruit an experienced Learning & Development Lead.

This is an opportunity for a passionate L&D professional with a strong background in manufacturing to drive workforce capability, develop future leaders and create engaging learning experiences across a fast-paced operational environment.

We are looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and is passionate about helping people grow, develop and perform at their best.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape and influence learning across a growing manufacturing business.
• A highly visible role with a genuine impact on people and performance.
• A supportive and collaborative culture.
• A competitive salary and benefits package.

Key Duties

• Working closely with operational leaders and the wider HR team, you will lead learning and development initiatives across the business, ensuring employees at all levels have the skills, knowledge and support needed to succeed.
• Developing and delivering the site's Learning & Development strategy.
• Identifying skills gaps and implementing effective development solutions.
• Designing and facilitating leadership, management and skills-based training programmes.
• Supporting succession planning and talent development initiatives.
• Coaching managers to build high-performing teams and strengthen people management capability.
• Leading onboarding and induction programmes for new employees.
• Managing training compliance, learning records and development pathways within a manufacturing environment.
• Evaluating learning effectiveness and using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Building strong relationships across Operations, Quality, HR and senior leadership teams.

Requirements

• To be considered, you must have previous Learning & Development experience within a manufacturing, engineering, production or industrial environment.
• At least five years' experience in an L&D, Talent Development or Organisational Development role.
• Strong experience designing and delivering engaging training programmes.
• Strong facilitation, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting leadership and management development.
• A confident, proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Experience using learning management systems and digital learning platforms, with exposure to tools such as Insights, MBTI, DiSC and Hogan.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• A bachelor's degree in HR, Education, Organisational Development, Psychology or a related field.
• A data-driven approach to decision-making.

Interested?

If you are an experienced Learning & Development professional from a manufacturing background who is passionate about developing people, building capability and creating a culture of continuous learning, we would love to hear from you.