Learning & Talent Management Leader

First Quality; Ohio; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

First Quality is seeking a veteran leader to build and own an enterprise-wide learning and development ecosystem across North America. You will shape the talent strategy, lead leadership development, and manage talent processes across multiple sites.

You will partner with senior leadership to implement innovative learning opportunities aligned with business priorities, ensuring readiness for today and the future.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or related field required.
• MBA or other advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in learning & development, talent management, and leadership development.
• Experience with Workday LMS or other robust learning management system.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead enterprise-wide learning and development strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Co-own and evolve the LMS Workday, optimizing its use across sites.
• Formulate leadership development programs and succession planning initiatives.
• Drive AI fluency and capability from a people perspective across the organization.
• Evaluate learning activities for business impact and adjust offerings accordingly.
• Partner with senior leadership to build a cohesive talent ecosystem across North America.

Skills

Executive presence

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Change management

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/business

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Workday LMS

Job description

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

This role will partner with senior leadership, HR colleagues, and business leaders across the organization to build a talent ecosystem that is cohesive, flexible, and built to last. The role is responsible for building First Quality University, an enterprise-wide learning and development ecosystem designed to transform how First Quality attracts, develops, and retains talent across all manufacturing sites and offices across North America. This hands‑on role will work to formulate and lead the learning and development strategy, the leadership development strategy, and own all talent processes across the Enterprise. This key leadership position will work to implement learning and development opportunities that are directly aligned with business strategy and priorities to ensure that our Team Members are prepared for success both today and in the future.

Responsibilities:

• In partnership with all First Quality businesses, own and evolve the talent management strategy — learning, performance management, succession planning, and talent assessment ensuring that all processes and systems operate as an integrated ecosystem, with clear connectivity across the full employee lifecycle
• Formulate and lead a comprehensive learning & development strategy, adapting training to individual needs wherever possible while retaining standardized elements where necessary, while integrating cutting edge practices that leverage technology
• Design and advance curriculum and learning paths for leaders and managers at every level
• Partner with the business on all succession planning and talent mapping initiatives, improving visibility into leadership pipelines and readiness across the organization
• Lead efforts to build AI fluency and capability from a people perspective — supporting both skill development and behavioral adoption
• Drive continuous improvement through data, honest feedback, and a willingness to learn from what hasn't worked
• Drive innovation across the learning function with deep understanding of Generative Ai and the possibilities it brings
• Rigorously evaluate all learning activities to determine its impact on business outcomes and revise strategies and offerings based on insights gained. Identify, engage and monitor the performance of all external vendors engaged to assist us with our talent journey
• Stay abreast of the latest external market trends in learning, development, and talent management, anticipating their impact on future capability requirements
• Co‑own the learning management system (LMS) – Workday – with a focus on continuing to evolve and develop the tool

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or related field required; MBA or other advanced degree strongly preferred
• 15+ years of progressive experience in learning & development, talent management, and leadership development
• Experience with Workday LMS or other robust learning management system
• Demonstrated success designing and leading enterprise‑level learning and talent systems that drive performance and scale
• Strong consulting mindset combined with in‑house execution experience; able to influence through insight and credibility rather than authority
• Proven ability to operate with senior leadership in fast‑moving, ambiguous environments
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, and integrity
• Executive‑level presence with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical orientation; able to translate data and observation into action
• Proven experience in organizational change management and complex project management
• Experience in manufacturing or environments that employ a large number of hourly Team Members across various sites
• Deep understanding of the revolutionary capabilities Artificial Intelligence is bringing to the industry and the leadership skills required to motivate Team Members to embrace it
• Adept at adapting to rapidly evolving and changing priorities, navigating complexity, establishing clear deadlines, and demonstrating resilience and flexibility
• Strategic, innovative, and out‑of‑the‑box thinker with a practical and real‑world orientation
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, coupled with effective presentation and facilitation skills
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and conceptual skills

First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.

First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.