Operations Learning & Capability Leader

Appvion; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Appvion is seeking a Workforce Capability & Training Manager to strengthen production training, leadership development, and digital enablement across operations in Appleton. The role connects frontline learning with safe, efficient daily execution.

You will establish competency standards, build practical tools, and develop leaders while collaborating with HR, safety, quality, and maintenance to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in operations, manufacturing, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years in manufacturing/ops training, leadership development, or continuous improvement.
• Experience building or improving training programs, standards, and learning systems in operations.
• Experience with digital tools, learning systems, data, and AI to improve training.
• Ability to develop frontline leaders, supervisors, and trainers.
• Strong knowledge of plant operations, safety, quality, productivity and engagement.
• Able to work cross-functionally with operations, HR, safety, quality, maintenance, and leadership.
• Strong communication, facilitation, coaching, and change leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensure production teams have skills, standards, and confidence to work safely and consistently.
• Establish role-based competency expectations and training progression.
• Create standard work and learning tools to improve consistency and readiness.
• Provide leaders with visibility into capability, gaps, and readiness.
• Develop frontline leaders to coach performance and enforce accountability.
• Develop curriculum focused on coaching, communication, accountability, performance management.
• Strengthen trainer network for consistent expectations across shifts.
• Support leader readiness and succession for key talent.
• Improve salaried teams' capability by scaling knowledge and tools.
• Build scalable learning systems for supervisors and managers.
• Promote AI-enabled tools to improve training and execution.
• Link training and standard work to outcomes in safety, quality, productivity, engagement.

Skills

Leadership development

Training programs

Change management

Facilitation

Digital tools

AI-enabled resources

Education

Bachelor’s degree in operations or related field

Job description

Appvion is seeking a Workforce Capability & Training Manager to strengthen production training, leadership development, and digital enablement across operations in Appleton. The role connects frontline learning with safe, efficient daily execution.

You will establish competency standards, build practical tools, and develop leaders while collaborating with HR, safety, quality, and maintenance to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and engagement.