Training & Development Lead

Clerkin Connect; Ireland; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Clerkin Connect is recruiting a Training & Development Lead for our client, an established electrical contractor delivering residential and commercial projects. You will take ownership of developing, coordinating and continuously improving training across a skilled electrical workforce.

You will design an Apprentice Development Programme, supporting apprentices from onboarding through every stage of their apprenticeship and into qualified roles, while also advancing training for qualified

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate a structured Apprentice Development Programme.
• Create a clearly defined pathway covering the full apprentice journey.
• Establish onboarding and induction programme for new apprentices.
• Define practical skills, competencies and experience at each stage.
• Collaborate with Contracts Managers, Project Managers, supervisors and electricians to provide practical exposure.
• Develop skills and competency matrices to track progress.
• Establish regular development reviews to assess progress and priorities.
• Coordinate technical training, toolbox sessions and practical learning opportunities.
• Support mentoring between apprentices and experienced electricians or supervisors.
• Identify apprentices needing extra support and those with supervisory potential.
• Ensure training complements apprenticeship and regulatory requirements.
• Support final-stage apprentices as they transition to qualified roles.
• Assess training needs across the electrical workforce.
• Develop training plans for qualified electricians.
• Coordinate technical refresher and upskilling programmes.
• Identify requirements from new technologies and systems.
• Support development in quality, productivity, planning, digital systems and site coordination.
• Identify gaps and develop interventions with management.
• Create opportunities for electricians to broaden residential and commercial experience.
• Develop pathways to Chargehand, Supervisor, Foreman and other leadership roles.
• Promote continuous learning and professional development.
• Develop and maintain a company-wide Training and Competency Matrix.
• Track qualifications, certifications, mandatory training and renewal dates.
• Conduct training needs assessments with operational management.
• Identify competency gaps.
• Develop annual and quarterly training plans.
• Maintain training records and monitor participation and effectiveness.
• Report on training activity and development priorities.
• Create blended training covering technical electrical skills, quality standards, health and safety, company systems, productivity, digital tools, planning and leadership.
• Identify internal experts and external trainers to coordinate delivery.
• Develop a consistent onboarding process for apprentices and other employees.
• Provide understanding of company culture, standards, health and safety, quality, site procedures, roles and career pathways.

Job description

Clerkin Connect is recruiting a Training & Development Lead on behalf of our client, an established electrical contractor delivering residential and commercial projects.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of the development, coordination and continuous improvement of training across a skilled electrical workforce.

The Role

The primary focus will be to develop structured training and competency pathways for apprentices and qualified electricians. You will ensure employees receive the technical, practical and professional development needed to progress within the business and consistently deliver high standards.

A key priority will be creating a structured Apprentice Development Programme, supporting apprentices from onboarding through every stage of their apprenticeship and into qualified roles.

You will also lead the ongoing development of qualified electricians, supervisors and operational personnel, ensuring training responds to changing technologies, regulations, working practices and business needs.

As a secondary responsibility, you will support Operational Excellence and Lean Construction initiatives where training, standardisation and employee development can improve productivity, quality and consistency.

Key Responsibilities

Apprentice Training and Development

• Develop and coordinate a structured Apprentice Development Programme.
• Create a clearly defined pathway covering the full apprentice journey.
• Establish a consistent onboarding and induction programme for new apprentices.
• Define the practical skills, competencies and experience required at each stage.
• Work with Contracts Managers, Project Managers, supervisors and experienced electricians to provide appropriate practical exposure.
• Develop skills and competency matrices to track individual progress.
• Establish regular development reviews to assess progress, identify gaps and agree priorities.
• Coordinate technical training, toolbox sessions and practical learning opportunities.
• Support mentoring between apprentices and experienced electricians or supervisors.
• Identify apprentices requiring additional support and those demonstrating future supervisory potential.
• Ensure internal development complements formal apprenticeship and regulatory requirements.
• Support final-stage apprentices as they transition into qualified roles.

Qualified Electrician Development

• Assess training and competency requirements across the electrical workforce.
• Develop training plans for qualified electricians.
• Coordinate technical refresher and upskilling programmes.
• Identify requirements arising from new technologies, equipment, systems and installation methods.
• Support development in quality, productivity, planning, digital systems and site coordination.
• Identify skills gaps and develop appropriate interventions with management.
• Create opportunities for electricians to broaden their residential and commercial experience.
• Develop pathways towards Chargehand, Supervisor, Foreman and other leadership roles.
• Promote continuous learning and professional development.

Training and Competency Management

• Develop and maintain a company-wide Training and Competency Matrix.
• Track qualifications, certifications, mandatory training and renewal dates.
• Conduct training needs assessments with operational management.
• Identify technical and behavioural competency gaps.
• Develop annual and quarterly training plans aligned with business priorities.
• Maintain accurate training and development records.
• Monitor participation, completion and training effectiveness.
• Report regularly on training activity, competency gaps and development priorities.

Programme Design and Delivery

Develop a practical blend of formal and workplace-based learning covering areas such as:

• Technical electrical skills
• Workmanship and quality standards
• Health and safety compliance
• Company systems and procedures
• Productivity and effective working practices
• Digital tools and site reporting
• Planning and work organisation
• Communication and teamwork
• Supervisor and leadership development

You will not necessarily deliver every programme personally. A key part of the position will be identifying suitable internal subject‑matter experts, external trainers and training providers, and coordinating delivery.

Onboarding and Induction

Develop a consistent onboarding process for apprentices, qualified electricians and other operational employees. This should provide a clear understanding of:

• Company culture and values
• Professional and behavioural standards
• Health and safety requirements
• Quality and workmanship expectations
• Site procedures and working practices
• Company systems and reporting requirements
• Individual roles and responsibilities
• Training, development and career pathways

Site Engagement

• Visit projects regularly and engage with apprentices and electricians.
• Liaise with supervisors and Project Managers on employee development.
• Observe working practices to identify training and competency gaps.
• Assess whether learning is being applied effectively on site.
• Identify good practices that can be incorporated into future training.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the skills required across residential and commercial projects.

Operational Excellence and Lean Construction

As a secondary element of the role, you will connect training and people development with improved operational performance by:

• Supporting the standardisation of key working practices.
• Helping to develop SOPs, work instructions and visual standards.
• Supporting 5S and workplace organisation initiatives.
• Promoting practical Continuous Improvement across site teams.
• Supporting problem-solving and lessons‑learned activities.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce rework, waste and inefficient practices.
• Incorporating Lean Construction and Operational Excellence principles into relevant training.
• Supporting supervisors and site teams in implementing agreed improvements.

You will contribute to these initiatives alongside management but will not hold primary responsibility for overall operational performance or business-wide Lean transformation.

Initial Priorities

During the first 12 months, you will:

• Review the existing approach to apprentice and electrician training.
• Develop the Apprentice Development Pathway.
• Introduce structured apprentice onboarding and induction.
• Develop a company-wide Training and Competency Matrix.
• Establish individual apprentice development reviews.
• Create a structured CPD and upskilling programme for qualified electricians.
• Define progression pathways from Apprentice to Electrician to Chargehand or Supervisor.
• Build a network of internal mentors and subject‑matter experts.
• Establish training records, KPIs and management reporting.
• Incorporate Operational Excellence and Lean Construction principles into workforce training.

About You

You will have experience in training, learning and development, technical workforce development or employee development, ideally within electrical contracting, construction, engineering or another technical environment.

You should be confident engaging with apprentices, qualified tradespeople, supervisors, Project Managers and senior management.

An electrical qualification would be advantageous but is not essential. More important is your ability to collaborate with technical experts and translate business requirements into practical, structured development programmes.

Knowledge of Lean, Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence would also be beneficial, although strong training and people‑development capability is the priority.

Measures of Success

Success will be demonstrated through:

• Effective implementation of the Apprentice Development Programme
• Improved apprentice progression, competency and retention
• Consistent, high-quality employee onboarding
• Greater visibility of workforce skills and competencies
• Completion of agreed training and development plans
• Continued development and upskilling of qualified electricians
• Progression of employees into supervisory positions
• A reduction in recurring skills and competency gaps
• Positive feedback from employees and operational management
• Evidence that training is improving quality, productivity and consistency

This position is advertised by Clerkin Connect on behalf of our client. All applications and enquiries will be handled in confidence.