Area L&D Manager: Drive Safety, Quality & Productivity

Westrock Company, Inc.; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Westrock Company, Inc. is seeking an Area Learning & Development (ALD) Manager to ensure the effective execution and measurable impact of the Corrugated Division Learning & Development program at the plant level across an assigned area.

Focus on safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through targeted learning initiatives. The role acts as the primary connector between regional learning strategy and day-to-day plant execution, reporting to the Senior Manager, Learning & Development, with

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience managing or executing training systems in a manufacturing or operational environment.
• Experience using Learning Management Systems; Cornerstone experience preferred.
• Ability to leverage dashboards and tools to monitor training effectiveness and skill gaps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
• Equivalent experience accepted in lieu of formal degree.

Responsibilities

• Own execution quality of onboarding, on-the-job training (OJT), job certification, and training planning across assigned plants.
• Conduct regular learning health checks to validate execution quality, identify gaps, and drive corrective action.
• Partner with plant and area leadership to align learning efforts to safety, quality, productivity, and reliability priorities.
• Apply a risk-based approach to plant support and presence based on quarterly plant risk assessments.
• Coach site-level leaders on expectations and execution of hourly employee development programs.
• Provide oversight and coaching to Technical Trainers through a dotted-line relationship, ensuring trainer effort is focused on business impact.
• Utilize approved learning systems to assign, track, and report on training.
• Ensure training documentation is stored, maintained, and used as part of the learning process.
• Maintain an effective operating rhythm with key stakeholders including Plant Managers, RLD, HR, Safety, Quality, Reliability, CI partners, and other key stakeholders as appropriate.
• Escalate issues appropriately when barriers cannot be resolved through influence, data, and evidence.
• Capture and communicate learning impact, wins, and best practices across the area.
• Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through effective hourly workforce development.
• Improve consistency and effectiveness of onboarding, OJT, certification, and training planning across plants.
• Reduce skill gaps and operational risk by strengthening skill visibility and training execution.
• Increase effectiveness and consistency of Technical Trainers across the area.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Results oriented

Communication skills

Facilitation

Time management

Empathy & curiosity

Tools

Cornerstone LMS

MS Office

Job description

Westrock Company, Inc. is seeking an Area Learning & Development (ALD) Manager to ensure the effective execution and measurable impact of the Corrugated Division Learning & Development program at the plant level across an assigned area.

Focus on safety, quality, productivity, and reliability through targeted learning initiatives. The role acts as the primary connector between regional learning strategy and day-to-day plant execution, reporting to the Senior Manager, Learning & Development, with