Manager, Functional Development

Nestlé S.A.; Solon (OH); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé USA is seeking a Manager, Functional Development (Production, ME & SH&E) to lead capability-building strategies and training governance across One Operations. You will partner with SH&E SMEs, Manufacturing Excellence, HRBPs, and L&D to close competency gaps and deliver scalable onboarding and certification programs.

You will drive alignment to enterprise standards, employ platforms like POKA and LMS, and ensure training reaches both corporate and field locations with measurable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Engineering, Occupational Safety, or a related functional field preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in Learning & Development, Functional Training, Operations, Manufacturing/Production, EHS/Safety, or HR—preferably within a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Experience supporting or working within operations environments (e.g., manufacturing, production, safety, supply chain), with an understanding of site-based capability needs, safety/regulatory requirements, and operational priorities.
• Experience within the supported function(s)—ME/Production or SH&E—as a practitioner or subject matter expert, with the ability to translate real-world expertise into scalable training solutions.
• Experience designing and delivering functional training programs or capability-building strategies, including onboarding, certification, and skills-development initiatives.
• Exposure to digital learning tools and platforms (e.g., LMS, POKA, digital work instructions, learning experience platforms) and technology-enabled training solutions preferred.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Ability to design, implement, and continuously improve functional training and development solutions that drive measurable skill progression, readiness, and safety/operational performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and safety operational environments and the ability to align training strategies to business priorities, compliance requirements, and performance outcomes.
• Proven ability to build credibility and collaborate effectively with functional leaders, HRBPs, SMEs, factory/DC teams, and L&D partners to drive aligned capability outcomes.
• Ability to partner with subject matter experts to translate technical and safety knowledge into structured, scalable, and effective learning solutions.
• Applies sound instructional design principles and ensures high-quality, consistent training delivery across audiences and locations.
• Uses data (e.g., skill gaps, progression, completion, readiness, time-to-competency, compliance) to assess effectiveness, identify opportunities, and drive continuous improvement.
• Supports the implementation of enterprise and One Operations tools and initiatives (e.g., POKA, GROW/iLearn, Training Foundations, CB App), driving adoption within assigned functions.
• Effectively navigates cross-functional and matrixed organizations, balancing functional needs with enterprise alignment; strong change-leadership and facilitation capabilities.
• Experience leveraging LMS, digital work instructions, and learning technologies (e.g., POKA, iLearn/GROW) to scale capability building and improve learner experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead functional development strategy for the Production, ME and SH&E functions within One Operations.
• Partner with SMEs within SH&E to ensure training elements like LOTO, PPE, safety compliance, onboarding, and behavior-based safety programs are current and governed.
• Partner with SMEs within Manufacturing Excellence to maintain training on standard work, TPM/Lean, onboarding and certification, and front-line leader development.
• Establish content ownership and ensure POKA and other digital work-instruction platforms remain current and the source of truth.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve functional onboarding plans across corporate and field locations.
• Develop and sustain functional capability frameworks, including competency matrices and role proficiency requirements.
• Collaborate with SMEs to build capability in problem solving, RCA, Lean/TPM, reliability, systems thinking, change leadership, and MOC.
• Contribute to enterprise L&D initiatives (POKA, iLearn/GROW, Training Foundations, onboarding standards, CB App) with governance.
• Ensure NAOOMI compliance alignment for training programs; include Field and Corporate One Operations employees.
• Assess skill gaps, progression, and readiness; monitor metrics and report impact.

Skills

L&D strategy

Functional training

Operations experience

SH&E knowledge

RCA & Lean

Change leadership

Content ownership

LMS experience

POKA & digital work instructions

GROW/iLearn

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Engineering, Occupational Safety, or related field

Tools

POKA

LMS

iLearn/GROW

CB App

Job description

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.
At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

The Manager, Functional Development (Production, ME & SH&E) is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of capability-building strategies for the Production, Manufacturing Excellence and Safety, Health & Environment functions within OneOperations.

This role partners closely with ME and SH&E functional leaders, Heads of Manufacturing, HR Business Partners, and L&D to assess skill gaps, define targeted development plans, and deliver consistent, high-quality training and onboarding experiences across corporate and field/factory environments. The Manager ensures strong training foundations, effective SME partnerships, and alignment to enterprise standards and initiatives—while driving measurable improvements in workforce capability, operational excellence, safety compliance, and audit readiness.

This position is based out of Solon, OH.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead functional development strategy for the Production, ME and SH&E functions within One Operations. Assess current state and partner with HRBPs and functional leaders to define and execute targeted plans to close competency gaps.
• Partner with SMEs within SH&E to ensure key elements of their training—including LOTO, PPE, safety compliance, safety onboarding, and behavior-based safety programs—are maintained, accessible, current, and under governance to enable consistent training within the function and beyond.
• Partner with SMEs within Manufacturing Excellence to ensure key elements of their training—including standard work, CILs, TPM/Lean practices, operator onboarding and certification, and front-line leader development—are maintained, accessible, current, and under governance to enable consistent training within the function and beyond.
• Partner with SMEs to establish effective ways of working and clear content ownership, ensuring POKA and other digital work-instruction platforms remain current, governed, and accessible as the source of truth for functional skills.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve functional onboarding plans aligned to business needs, ensuring a consistent and effective new-hire experience across corporate and field locations.
• Develop and sustain functional capability frameworks, including competency matrices and role proficiency requirements, to define skill expectations and enable structured capability building for Production, ME and SH&E roles.
• Partner with SMEs to build capability in problem solving & root cause analysis (RCA), continuous improvement (Lean/TPM), reliability, systems thinking, change leadership, and management of change (MOC), ensuring this content stays current and governed.
• Contribute to and implement enterprise L&D initiatives (e.g., POKA, iLearn/GROW, Training Foundations, onboarding standards, CB App standards), ensuring effective adoption and governance within the Production, ME and SH&E functions.
• Ensure fulfillment of NAOOMI requirements and alignment of functional training programs to compliance and safety expectations.
• Ensure functional training programs include both Field and Corporate One Operations employees in scope, driving consistency and accessibility in capability development.
• Assess and track skill gaps, progression, and readiness; monitor and report on key metrics (e.g., time-to-competency, compliance, training completion, adoption, and readiness) to inform decisions and track impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Engineering, Occupational Safety, or a related functional field preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in Learning & Development, Functional Training, Operations, Manufacturing/Production, EHS/Safety, or HR—preferably within a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Experience supporting or working within operations environments (e.g., manufacturing, production, safety, supply chain), with an understanding of site-based capability needs, safety/regulatory requirements, and operational priorities.
• Experience within the supported function(s)—ME/Production or SH&E—as a practitioner or subject matter expert, with the ability to translate real-world expertise into scalable training solutions.
• Experience designing and delivering functional training programs or capability-building strategies, including onboarding, certification, and skills-development initiatives.
• Exposure to digital learning tools and platforms (e.g., LMS, POKA, digital work instructions, learning experience platforms) and technology-enabled training solutions preferred.
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Ability to design, implement, and continuously improve functional training and development solutions that drive measurable skill progression, readiness, and safety/operational performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and safety operational environments and the ability to align training strategies to business priorities, compliance requirements, and performance outcomes.
• Proven ability to build credibility and collaborate effectively with functional leaders, HRBPs, SMEs, factory/DC teams, and L&D partners to drive aligned capability outcomes.
• Ability to partner with subject matter experts to translate technical and safety knowledge into structured, scalable, and effective learning solutions.
• Applies sound instructional design principles and ensures high-quality, consistent training delivery across audiences and locations.
• Uses data (e.g., skill gaps, progression, completion, readiness, time-to-competency, compliance) to assess effectiveness, identify opportunities, and drive continuous improvement.
• Supports the implementation of enterprise and One Operations tools and initiatives (e.g., POKA, GROW/iLearn, Training Foundations, CB App), driving adoption within assigned functions.
• Effectively navigates cross-functional and matrixed organizations, balancing functional needs with enterprise alignment; strong change-leadership and facilitation capabilities.
• Experience leveraging LMS, digital work instructions, and learning technologies (e.g., POKA, iLearn/GROW) to scale capability building and improve learner experience.

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.
To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at [e-mail] or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.