Manufacturing Capability and Technical Learning Manager

John Soules Foods; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus plan

Vacation / Sick days

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

401 (k) with company match

Career development opportunities

Job summary

John Soules Foods is seeking a Manufacturing Capability & Technical Learning Manager in Tyler, TX to boost frontline leadership, readiness, and qualification programs across facilities. You will lead Technical Learning Coordinators and partner with Operations, Quality, Safety, IE, and HR to drive operational Excellence.

The role emphasizes sustainable capability development and standardized processes to ensure safe, efficient production and strong leadership readiness across sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, Organizational Leadership, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, technical training, workforce capability, continuous improvement, or operational excellence.
• Experience coaching frontline leaders in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success developing qualification, certification, onboarding, or workforce readiness programs.
• Strong communication, facilitation, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.

Responsibilities

• Partner with manufacturing leadership to identify workforce capability gaps and improve operational performance.
• Develop and implement qualification, onboarding, certification, and cross-training programs.
• Coach frontline leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness and accountability.
• Lead and develop Technical Learning Coordinators across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Standardize workforce capability and qualification processes across all facilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement and operational readiness.

Skills

Leadership coaching

Communication

Facilitation

Problem solving

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, Organizational Leadership, or related field

Job description

Manufacturing Capability & Technical Learning Manager

Location: Tyler, TX

Department: Human Resources

Reports To: Director of Talent Management

Direct Reports: 3

Travel: 50%

Overview Of Company

Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple® drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to- cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion. The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

Job Summary

Soules Foods is seeking a Manufacturing Capability & Technical Learning Manager to strengthen operational execution by improving frontline leadership effectiveness, workforce readiness, technical qualification, and execution consistency across our manufacturing facilities. This role reports directly to the Director of Talent Management and serves as a strategic business partner to Operations. This position is responsible for building the systems, processes, and capabilities necessary to ensure employees and leaders can consistently execute safely, efficiently, and effectively. The Manufacturing Capability & Technical Learning Manager will lead a team of Technical Learning Coordinators and work closely with Operations, Quality, Safety, Industrial Engineering, Continuous Improvement, and Human Resources to improve workforce capability, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and support operational excellence across the organization. This position is ideal for a manufacturing leader who understands that sustainable operational performance is achieved by developing capable leaders, qualified employees, and disciplined operating systems. This role has enterprise-wide responsibility for establishing consistent workforce capability, leadership readiness, and technical qualification standards across all Soules Foods manufacturing facilities.

Multi-Site Manufacturing Support

This role provides support across Soules Foods manufacturing operations and serves as a strategic partner to plant leadership teams in Tyler, Texas; Valley, Alabama; and Gainesville, Georgia. The Manufacturing Capability & Technical Learning Manager will work closely with leaders at each location to identify workforce capability needs, strengthen frontline leadership effectiveness, improve workforce readiness, and drive consistency in qualification, certification, and operational execution across all facilities. The role requires regular presence in manufacturing environments and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure capability‑building efforts align with operational priorities and business objectives.

Position Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to improve manufacturing performance by increasing workforce capability and leadership effectiveness. This is not a traditional training role. While technical training is an important component of the position, the primary focus is ensuring employees are qualified, leaders are effective, and operations have the workforce capability necessary to consistently achieve safety, quality, service, and productivity expectations. Success will be measured by operational readiness, qualification effectiveness, leadership capability, workforce flexibility, and execution consistency.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, Organizational Leadership, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, technical training, workforce capability, continuous improvement, or operational excellence.
• Experience coaching frontline leaders in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success developing qualification, certification, onboarding, or workforce readiness programs.
• Strong communication, facilitation, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.

Preferred

• Food manufacturing, poultry, protein processing, or other high-volume manufacturing experience.
• Management Experience leading technical training or workforce development teams.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TWI, Standard Work, TPM, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Multi-site manufacturing experience.

Key Responsibilities

NOTE: This description is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may perform other related duties to meet the organization's ongoing needs; these duties are considered marginal.

• Partner with manufacturing leadership to identify workforce capability gaps and improve operational performance.
• Develop and implement qualification, onboarding, certification, and cross-training programs.
• Coach frontline leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness and accountability.
• Lead and develop Technical Learning Coordinators across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Standardize workforce capability and qualification processes across all facilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement and operational readiness.

Work Environment

• This job is carried out in a professional office setting and involves using standard office equipment like laptops, desk phones, and smartphones. Regular visits to production facilities will also be required. During those visits, the employee is occasionally exposed to cold and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold temperatures, electrical shock and vibration risks. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Travel Requirements

• Travel up to 50% is required to support manufacturing facilities in Tyler, TX, Valley, AL, and Gainesville, GA.
• Regular travel between facilities is expected to coach leaders, support Technical Learning Coordinators, assess workforce capability needs, facilitate capability-building initiatives, and partner with site leadership teams.
• Ability to work in manufacturing and production environments, including time spent on the production floor, is required.

Physical Demands

• Employees must be able to stand, walk, or sit; use their hands for tasks; reach with their arms; and communicate verbally. Occasional lifting or moving objects is necessary, along with close, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following

• Incentive Pay: This position is eligible for the Company’s bonus plan, with amounts varying based on program terms.
• Vacation / Sick days
• Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
• Telemedicine
• Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley
• Free annual health screening
• 401 (k) with company match
• STD and LTD
• Life insurance & other voluntary benefits
• Career Development: We support professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities.

Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location.

Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law.

Unsolicited Assistance

Soules Foods does not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for U.S. positions. Resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written request and search agreement from HR will be considered the property of Soules Foods. No fees will be paid for candidates hired through unsolicited referrals