Manager, Technical Training Programs

Virginia Transformer Corp; Muscle Shoals (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Transformer Corp is seeking a Manager, Technical Training Programs to lead the launch training for the Alabama plant. You will deliver training, coordinate with manufacturing, engineering, quality, safety, and HR to align workforce readiness with production milestones.

You will develop structured learning paths, update curricula, and build internal instructor capability through train-the-trainer initiatives, ensuring consistent training across sites while managing resources and

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in engineering, technical education, industrial technology, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• Five+ years of experience in technical or manufacturing training, engineering or related function.
• Experience supporting a manufacturing plant startup, facility launch, or major production expansion with workforce training.
• Experience developing instructional materials, delivering hands-on technical training, and assessing employee competency.
• Ability to engage internal subject matter experts to deliver effective instruction.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and translate complex processes into practical learning.
• Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Experience with learning management systems, training records, and reporting tools.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Alabama plant training plan aligned with hiring, equipment installation, and production milestones.
• Arrange classrooms, training bays, machines, tools, materials, and instructors; coordinate employee travel and schedules for hands-on training.
• Assess skill gaps and establish structured learning pathways for new hires and existing staff.
• Partner with curriculum owner to implement and update training; create training materials and guides.
• Personally conduct classroom, shop-floor, and on-the-job training or engage internal experts; verify understanding with knowledge checks.
• Develop internal instructors through train-the-trainer programs and succession planning.
• Establish common training standards and documentation across plants; provide leadership to plant training managers.
• Pursue trade school partnerships and training incentives; coordinate HR/Finance reporting.
• Maintain skills matrices and training records; track completion and proficiency; measure training impact.
• Manage training resources and budgets; adjust plans as launch needs change.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional coordination

Effective communication

Facilitation

Adult learning principles

Instructional design

Training delivery

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical education

Tools

LMS (Learning Management Systems)

Job description

On the heels of achieving 3X growth, Virginia Transformer is hiring to do it again!

We’re strategically building our team for the next 3X growth cycle — a phase that is both intense and incredibly rewarding. We’re highly selective about who joins us, because this journey isn’t for everyone.

If you have the drive, grit, and expertise to perform at a high level — and you want to grow your career 3X alongside the Company’s growth — we’d love to talk.

Who We Are

Virginia Transformer is the largestU.S.-owned producer of power transformers in North America, and we’ve been able to grow the past 50-plus years through an unwavering focus on delivering for our customers. We’re more than 6,000 people strong and are known throughout the industry for being an engineering company that makes premium quality transformers in the shortest lead times.

As a privately held, organically growing company, we thrive on nimbleness, innovation, and tenacity.

Join Our Team

If you love the thrill of securing the U.S. electric grid, enabling all manufacturing in the country, and the energy of a fast-moving train — this is the place for you. We train hard, grow together, and lead with purpose. Every transformer we build is custom, every challenge unique, and every team member essential.

We’re looking for those ready to lead, fueled by commitment, and driven by impact. We are growing so fast that all our available roles are not yet posted, so let us know if you are interested and we will follow-up.

Location: Muscle Shoals, AL

Virginia Transformer Corp. is seeking a Manager, Technical Training Programs to support our Alabama plant launch and strengthen technical training across our manufacturing locations. This role will personally deliver training and engage internal subject matter experts to prepare employees to perform their jobs safely and effectively.

The manager will partner with manufacturing, engineering, quality, safety, and human resources to align training with workforce needs, launch schedules, and production requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Plant startup readiness: Develop and execute the Alabama plant training plan, aligning employee readiness with hiring, equipment installation, and production milestones. Identify training gaps, monitor progress, and address risks to launch readiness.
• Training coordination: Arrange classrooms, training bays, machines, tools, materials, and instructors. Coordinate employee travel and schedules for hands-on training at our Rincon, Geogia plant and other facilities.
• Program development: Assess skill gaps and establish structured learning pathways for new hires, experienced employees, and employees advancing into technical roles.
• Curriculum and knowledge transfer: Partner with the designated technical curriculum owner, who retains curriculum ownership, to implement and update training. Capture expert knowledge in practical training materials, instructor guides, job aids, and qualification standards.
• Training delivery: Personally conduct classroom, shop-floor, and on-the-job training or engage qualified internal subject matter experts based on the topic. Verify understanding through knowledge checks and hands-on demonstrations.
• Instructor development and succession: Develop internal instructors through train-the-trainer programs and coaching. Build technical training succession coverage and reduce reliance on individual experts, allowing technical leaders to focus on strategic launch priorities.
• Consistency across plants: Establish common training standards, qualification practices, and documentation. Provide functional leadership to plant training managers through dotted-line reporting relationships.
• Trade school partnerships and incentives: Work with trade schools, technical colleges, and workforce development organizations to support employee development. Pursue available training incentives and coordinate supporting applications and reporting with HR and finance.
• Performance and improvement: Maintain skills matrices and training records. Track completion, qualifications, time to proficiency, and training effectiveness using quality, productivity, rework, and safety results.
• Resource management: Manage assigned training resources and budgets, communicate needs to leadership, and adjust training plans as launch and production requirements change.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technical education, industrial technology, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Five or more years of experience in technical training, manufacturing training, engineering, or a related function.
• Experience supporting a manufacturing plant startup, facility launch, or major production expansion, including workforce training and operational readiness.
• Experience developing instructional materials, delivering hands-on technical training, and assessing employee competency.
• Ability to engage and prepare internal subject matter experts to deliver effective instruction.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, work instructions, and procedures and translate complex processes into practical learning.
• Strong project management, communication, facilitation, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Experience with learning management systems, training records, and reporting tools.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Transformer, electrical equipment, or heavy industrial manufacturing experience.
• Direct responsibility for technical training during a greenfield plant startup.
• Familiarity with winding, assembly, insulation, electrical testing, or related manufacturing processes.
• Experience supporting training across multiple facilities and leading through dotted-line relationships.
• Experience with trade school partnerships, training incentives, skills matrices, and train-the-trainer programs.
• Knowledge of adult learning, instructional design, Lean manufacturing, and digital learning tools.

Measures of Success

• Training readiness achieved in alignment with Alabama plant launch milestones.
• Employees demonstrate required qualifications before performing assigned production work.
• Faster onboarding and time to proficiency.
• Consistent training delivery and documentation across plants.
• Strong internal instructor capability, documented technical knowledge, and succession coverage.
• Effective trade school partnerships and use of available training incentives.
• Training contributions to improved quality, productivity, and reduced rework.

This position is based in Muscle Shoals, AL, with regular involvement in classroom and manufacturing environments. Travel to Rincon, Georgia and other company facilities is required, particularly during launch preparation and training activities.