Learning & Development Leader

SkyWater Search Partners; Lakeville (MN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

STI bonus

Full benefits

Job summary

SkyWater Search Partners is partnering with a growing metalworking organization to hire a hands-on Learning & Development professional who will strengthen workforce capabilities, employee development, and leadership readiness across its Minnesota operations.

Reporting to the Director of Learning & Development, you will lead programs from planning to evaluation, deliver engaging training, and build practical career pathways for frontline manufacturing employees across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience in learning and development, training, workforce development, human resources, or a related field.
• Experience facilitating instructor-led, virtual, or blended learning programs.
• Experience coordinating projects, programs, or organization-wide initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with leaders to identify performance, training, and development needs.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel up to 40%.

Responsibilities

• Lead learning programs from initial planning through implementation and evaluation.
• Partner with leaders to identify skill, performance, and capability gaps and develop effective solutions.
• Support onboarding, technical training, leadership development, career progression, succession planning, and broader workforce capability initiatives.
• Monitor program outcomes and use data, feedback, and business results to drive continuous improvement.
• Promote consistent learning standards and employee experiences across locations.
• Maintain accurate training records, certifications, compliance documentation, learning rosters, and related reporting.
• Collaborate with operations, safety, HR, quality, and site leadership to align development programs with operational priorities.

Skills

Facilitation

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Presentation skills

Multi-tasking

Tools

Microsoft Office

Learning systems

Job description

Learning & Development Specialist
Location: South Metro MN & Detroit Lakes, MN
Travel: Up to 40%
Work Setting: Onsite, supporting multiple locations and shifts
Compensation: $80,000-$105,000 (based on experience) + STI + Full Benefits

The Opportunity

SkyWater Search Partners is partnering with a fantastic legacy manufacturing organization to hire a hands-on Learning & Development professional who will help strengthen workforce capabilities, employee development, and leadership readiness across its operations.

Reporting to the Director of Learning & Development, this individual will serve as a facilitator, program leader, and trusted advisor to operational leadership. The role will manage learning initiatives from planning through evaluation, deliver engaging development experiences, and help create meaningful career pathways, particularly for frontline manufacturing employees.

This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced learning professional who enjoys being close to the business, building strong relationships with leaders and employees, and translating organizational needs into practical development solutions.

The Company

Our client is an established, growing metalworking organization providing custom manufacturing services to prominent brands across several industries. With more than 1,000 employees across multiple facilities, the company continues to invest in its people, equipment, and operations to support its growth and deliver exceptional value to its customers.

Key Responsibilities

Learning Program Leadership

• Manage learning and development programs from initial planning through implementation and evaluation.
• Partner with leaders to identify skill, performance, and capability gaps and develop effective solutions.
• Support onboarding, technical training, leadership development, career progression, succession planning, and broader workforce capability initiatives.
• Monitor program outcomes and use data, feedback, and business results to drive continuous improvement.
• Promote consistent learning standards and employee experiences across locations.

Facilitation and Employee Development

• Facilitate engaging learning experiences that support employee growth, leadership readiness, and career advancement.
• Deliver instructor-led, virtual, and blended programs that encourage participation, knowledge retention, and practical application.
• Adapt facilitation methods for diverse audiences, including frontline manufacturing employees, supervisors, and organizational leaders.
• Coach individuals and teams to reinforce learning and improve performance.
• Serve as a resource on adult learning principles and effective development practices.

Program Coordination and Reporting

• Maintain accurate training records, certifications, compliance documentation, learning rosters, and related reporting.
• Coordinate program logistics, including scheduling, participant communication, materials, and learning resources.
• Track required certifications and recertifications to ensure timely completion.
• Generate and analyze learning metrics, dashboards, and reports that support business decisions and workforce planning.
• Ensure learning content, documentation, and program materials remain current and accurate.

Business Partnership

• Collaborate with operations, safety, HR, quality, and site leadership to identify learning and workforce capability needs.
• Build trusted relationships with leaders and align development programs with operational priorities.
• Advise supervisors and managers on employee development, onboarding, skill progression, and career pathways.
• Gather feedback from leaders and learners to continuously improve programs and services.
• Influence and support the adoption of learning initiatives across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Three or more years of experience in learning and development, training, workforce development, human resources, or a related field.
• Experience facilitating instructor-led, virtual, or blended learning programs.
• Experience coordinating projects, programs, or organization-wide initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with leaders to identify performance, training, and development needs.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, programs, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience working with learning systems, databases, or reporting tools.
• Ability to travel up to 40%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within manufacturing, industrial operations, skilled trades, or another frontline workforce environment.
• Experience supporting career development, succession planning, and leadership pipeline initiatives.
• Experience leading or mentoring trainers, facilitators, or other learning professionals.
• Experience supporting multi-site or multi-shift operations.