Manufacturing Training & Onboarding Leader

Ilocatum; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilocatum in Waterloo, Iowa seeks a Training and Development Manager to lead onboarding, technical skills development, and compliance training across the organization. You will partner with leaders to design programs that enhance safety, quality, and operational excellence, and oversee training from orientation to job-specific skill-building.

This hands-on role requires developing and maintaining training materials, evaluating effectiveness, and ensuring accurate records and certifications are

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Education, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field required.
• 3-5 years of experience in employee training, learning and development, technical training, or a related discipline.
• Experience developing and delivering training programs across multiple departments or job functions.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver hands-on technical training and assess employee competency.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety training requirements.
• Ability to read blueprints and technical specifications, understand basic shop math, and follow manufacturing procedures.
• Manufacturing experience, particularly in welding, metal fabrication, assembly, or industrial operations, is highly desirable.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage training records, certifications, and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage employees at varying experience levels and across multiple shifts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify training gaps and implement effective solutions.
• Commitment to workplace safety, product quality, continuous improvement, and employee development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate structured onboarding programs, training schedules, and role-specific checklists in collaboration with department leaders.
• Deliver and oversee new hire training across multiple departments, ensuring employees understand job responsibilities, company procedures, quality expectations, and safety requirements.
• Conduct hands-on skills assessments and evaluate employee readiness before authorizing independent job performance.
• Develop ongoing training programs to strengthen technical proficiency, workmanship, problem-solving, and employee performance.
• Support production training in areas such as blueprint and specification reading, shop math, MIG welding, assembly procedures, and safe equipment operation.
• Coordinate training for new equipment, tooling, manufacturing processes, systems, and procedural changes.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and other functional leaders to identify skill gaps and establish training priorities.
• Develop and maintain training materials, work instructions, standard operating procedures, job aids, and other learning resources.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through skills assessments, employee observations, performance data, and feedback; implement improvements as needed.
• Establish consistent training standards across departments while adapting programs to individual job requirements and employee experience levels.

Skills

Onboarding

Technical training

Safety training

Program development

OSHA compliance

Blueprint reading

Shop math

Quality mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/ED/Business/OD

Job description

Ilocatum in Waterloo, Iowa seeks a Training and Development Manager to lead onboarding, technical skills development, and compliance training across the organization. You will partner with leaders to design programs that enhance safety, quality, and operational excellence, and oversee training from orientation to job-specific skill-building.

This hands-on role requires developing and maintaining training materials, evaluating effectiveness, and ensuring accurate records and certifications are