Workforce Development Specialist II

First Solar, Inc.; Perrysburg Township (OH); On-site; USD 2,934,000 - 4,107,000; Full time

Job summary

First Solar, Inc. is seeking a Workforce Development Specialist II to join our on-site team.

The role focuses on implementing training programs for production operations and maintenance associates, creating quality content, onboarding new hires, and delivering on‑the‑job and classroom training with cross‑functional collaboration. This developmental position emphasizes continual improvement of training methods, with exposure to data reporting, safety and quality initiatives, and external

Qualifications

• 3 years in a manufacturing environment.
• 3 years teaching or workforce training experience in at least one area: On-the-Job Training, Developing Training Material, or Community engagement initiatives.
• Passion for learning and helping others grow through a learning organization.
• Must be able to work collaboratively across levels of the organization and with cross-functional teams.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Create and deliver high‑quality training content for production operations and maintenance.
• Onboard new associates and deliver onboarding programs.
• Collaborate with production leadership to validate training through on‑the‑job or classroom delivery.
• Contribute ideas to improve training methods and formats across safety, quality, and leadership areas.
• Support external community and recruitment activities.

Skills

Training content creation

Interpersonal skills

Communication (verbal & written)

Facilitation

MS Office

SharePoint

Video editing

Instructional design

SCORM

Community engagement

Education

Associate degree in Technical Discipline or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.

Basic Job Functions:

The Workforce Development Specialist II is an individual contributor on a team responsible for implementing project tasks and activities required for the workforce recruitment, training, and development of the production operations and maintenance associates. The Specialist II is a developmental position toward a Specialist III, for associates passionate about education and development of people and committed to the continued development of the First Solar training program. The Specialist II has the responsibility as a Team Member in the creation of high quality training content, onboarding new associates, working with production leadership on the delivery and validation of training (a majority of which is on-the-job or classroom based). The Specialist II is expected to contribute ideas and work toward the pursuit of continually improving workforce development training and methods. The Specialist II is to have good interpersonal skills in collaborating cross functionally to deliver training programs in all aspects of work (safety, quality, technical, problem solving, and leadership). The position requires continued development of skills in training tools and methods along with improving on analytical skills in assessing and reporting on workplace data. The Specialist II may be required to support externally on community and recruitment activities. This is an on-site (not remote) position.

Education/Experience:

3 years working with or within a manufacturing environment.

3 years in teaching or in the workforce with experience in at least one of the following:

On-the-Job Training Methods

Developing Training Material (multi-media forms)

Community engagement initiatives for developing people.

Associate level college Degree in a Technical Discipline, HR organizational development, or Educational degree in a STEM field or equivalent 5 year of work experience in developing people.

Passion for learning and helping others grow through a learning organization.

Dependable

Must be able to work collaboratively with cross functional relationship and at all levels of the organization (production associates to management).

Possess good interpersonal skills to work in cross functional teams.

Good training facilitation skills.

Good organizational skills with capability for detail and thoroughness in tracking and reporting

Good verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills.

Good skills in facilitation of 1:1 Train-the-Trainer and group learning

Competent in Microsoft tools (word, excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint file management, basic picture & video editing

Some expertise in particular areas of training (e.g. instructional design, OJT methods, video production, MS forms, on-line or virtual forms, SCORM)

Able to be Innovative and creative.

Demonstrated eye for high quality work product appropriate for teaching.

Continually collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to determine training needs and improvements in all aspects of work (safety, quality, technical, problem solving, and leadership). Contribute ideas and work toward developing and implementing improvements in training forms and methods.

Develop, deliver, and maintain training solution that follow a consistent format, is of a high quality professional form, and accompanied with the appropriate supplements (e.g. reference guides, video, verification tools).

Further develop own skills on training tools and methods (e.g. video, virtual environments, methods in training verification).

Collaborate with trainers, and supervisor manages on training status reporting, and additionally with subject matter experts on verification of training completeness and effectiveness.

Assist in the onboarding of new associates and assist on Crew Training Advocates along with the new associate's crew supervision and production team leaders to ensure their development needs are cared for in the first 90 days.

Support external activities in community and recruitment.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will not have direct reports.

Travel:

No travel is required.

Estimated Salary Range:

$21.30 -$29.81 per hour

US Physical Requirements:

Hybrid Physical Requirements:

• Will sit, stand, or walk short distances for up to the entire duration of a shift.
• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
• Will lift, push, or pull up to 27 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects on a frequent basis
• 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required
• Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
• May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
• May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to; steel toed shoes, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards)
• All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair)
• Will sit, stand or walk short distances for up to 12 hours per day
• Will climb stairs on an occasional basis.
• Will exert up to 50 pounds of force to lift, push or pull on a seldom basis.
• Will lift, push, or pull up to 27 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Will lift up to 51 pounds on an occasional basis, according to work instructions.
• Will lift up to 37 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Will push or pull up to 27 pounds of force on an occasional basis.
• Will push or pull up to 10 pounds of force on a frequent basis.
• Required to use hands to grasp, lift, handle, carry or feel objects repetitively on a frequent basis
• 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required
• Must be able to comply with all safety standards and procedures.
• May reach above shoulder heights and below the waist on a frequent basis.
• May stoop, kneel, or bend, on an occasional basis.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment is required (including but not limited to, steel toed shoes,
• gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, protective jacket or apron and arm guards)

Requirements related to being on the production floor and participation in on-the-job training;

All associates working on the production floor may be required to wear a respirator at any given time and thus, the ability to wear a respirator is a condition of employment and continued employment (requires little or no facial hair)

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check band any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.