Onboarding Lead

Howmet Aerospace; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace is seeking an Onboarding Lead to design, coordinate, and deliver onboarding programmes for new employees in our manufacturing operations. You will support supervisors during probation and drive retention, performance and compliance across a high-growth environment.

The role involves coordinating classroom inductions, ensuring Day 1 readiness, and collaborating with trainers to monitor progress and feedback.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Comfortable delivering classroom-based training and facilitating group sessions.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills to coordinate logistics and records.
• Understanding of probationary processes and performance support.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver classroom-based induction sessions for all new starters.
• Prepare Day 1 readiness including documentation, equipment, PPE, site access, and welcome arrangements.
• Monitor and evaluate new hires during induction through assessments and feedback.
• Collaborate with trainers and supervisors to track trainee progress in departments.
• Audit training records to maintain accuracy and identify gaps.
• Identify additional training needs during induction and coordinate interventions.
• Provide timely feedback to hiring managers on concerns observed during sessions.
• Contribute to onboarding materials, processes, and training packages.
• Support managers during probation to facilitate onboarding and early performance management.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Administrative skills

Training delivery

Education

Training delivery qualifications (PTLLS/AET) or HR certifications

Tools

LMS systems

Job description

• Locations Alcoa Europe, Exeter, DEV, EX2 7LG, GB (On-site)
• Job Schedule Full time

Responsibilities

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Onboarding Lead. This role will be sat within our HR team, reporting to the HR Manager. The role is based on a day‑shift schedule, though occasional flexibility outside these hours will be necessary.

The purpose of this role is to design, coordinate, and deliver effective onboarding programmes that ensure new employees integrate quickly, safely and productively into our manufacturing operations. The successful candidate will also be responsible for providing ongoing support to supervisors and managers during probationary periods to drive retention, performance, and compliance in a high‑growth environment.

• Coordinate and deliver the classroom-based induction sessions for all new starters, ensuring engaging, informative, and compliant delivery.
• Ensure all preparations are complete for new starters on Day 1, including documentation, equipment, PPE, site access, and welcome arrangements.
• Monitor and evaluate new hires during the induction phase through assessments, observations, and feedback mechanisms.
• Collaborate with departmental trainers, mentors, and supervisors to track trainee progress once placed in departments, ensuring adherence to the New-To-Job process and probationary milestones.
• Audit departmental training records regularly to maintain accuracy, compliance, and identification of gaps.
• Identify additional training or support needs during induction (e.g., neurodiversity requirements, language support, or skill gaps) and coordinate appropriate interventions.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback to hiring managers and supervisors on any concerns observed during classroom sessions or early probation (e.g., attendance, engagement, aptitude).
• Contribute to the development and improvement of onboarding materials, processes, and training packages, including transitioning from manual to automated/digital systems where feasible.
• Support supervisors and managers with tools, guidance, and check‑ins during the probationary period to facilitate successful completion and early performance management.

“Howmet is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff… We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.”

Qualifications

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proven ability to deliver training, present to groups, and provide constructive feedback.

Previous experience in manufacturing or industrial environments to quickly understand operational processes, safety requirements, and production basics.

Comfortable and confident in delivering classroom-based training and facilitating group sessions.

Strong organisational and administrative skills to coordinate logistics, monitor progress, and maintain accurate records.

Understanding of probationary processes and performance support in operational roles.

• Experience in onboarding, induction, or L&D coordination roles, ideally in manufacturing or high-volume recruitment settings.
• Knowledge of neurodiversity support and inclusive training practices.
• Familiarity with training automation/digital tools (e.g., LMS systems) and process improvement (e.g., Kaizen/Lean principles).
• Relevant qualifications in training delivery (e.g., PTLLS/AET) or HR-related certifications.

“Please note that this role may be subject to export control restrictions, including under ITAR. Any offer of employment will be conditional on the successful candidate meeting the applicable legal requirements for access to controlled information or technology.”