Workforce Development Manager - Metal Mfg.

Job Description

Job Description

Workforce Development Manager - Metal Mfg.

Workforce Development Manager
Location: Onsite Opportunity
Employment Type: Full Time, Exempt
Salary Range: $95,000 to $105,000

A major ductile iron pipe manufacturing operation is seeking a Workforce Development Manager to lead all training, onboarding, and competency programs across the plant. This is a high-impact, onsite leadership role for someone who thrives in heavy industrial, molten metal, and metal manufacturing environments and understands the rigor required to train teams working around heat, rotating equipment, cranes, and critical process controls.

About the Role

You will design, implement, and sustain a plant-wide training and competency system that ensures every employee is trained, verified competent, and aligned with safety expectations, standard work, and product requirements. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, and EHS to elevate safety, quality, and operational discipline.

Critical Must-Haves

These are non-negotiable for success in this role:

• 5+ years in molten metal, ductile iron, steel, foundry, or heavy metal manufacturing
• Hands-on experience in industrial environments with heat, noise, dust, rotating equipment, and heavy materials
• Proven ability to build job-based training systems and competency verification programs suitable for audit
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence supervisors, trainers, and cross-functional teams
• Experience training teams performing high-risk work (cranes, forklifts, molten metal handling, confined space, lockout/tagout)

What You Will Do

• Build and maintain job-based training matrices, qualification paths, and competency verification for all departments
• Define requirements for high-risk and quality-critical work, including molten metal handling, rotating equipment, cranes, forklifts, and coating/lining systems
• Establish and track key training metrics such as time-to-qualification, refresher cadence, and cross-training progression
• Lead onboarding for new hires, transfers, and promotions; verify readiness before independent work
• Maintain accurate, auditable training records supporting OSHA compliance and customer or third-party audits
• Integrate safety requirements into all training, including JSAs, lockout/tagout, confined space, PPE, and safe material handling
• Partner with EHS, Operations, and Quality to evaluate training effectiveness using incident trends, defect data, and process performance
• Recruit, develop, and coach trainers across all shifts; implement Train-the-Trainer standards
• Reinforce expected behaviors and values through training and leader development
• Support continuous improvement, cross-training, succession planning, and training for new equipment or process changes

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Safety, or related field; or equivalent experience in a molten metal manufacturing environment
• 5+ years of experience in ductile iron pipe manufacturing or similar heavy metal operations
• Demonstrated success building structured training systems and competency verification programs
• Strong communication, coaching, and leadership skills

Preferred

• Experience in a unionized manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with LMS or digital training tracking tools
• Experience supporting AWWA or customer audits and quality management systems

Key Competencies

• Safety and quality leadership
• Clear communication and coaching ability
• Data-driven training management
• High integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset

Work Environment

• Industrial manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, noise, dust, rotating equipment, and heavy materials
• Frequent time spent on the production floor across shifts; occasional off-shift or weekend support as needed

If you want, I can also:

• Convert this to ATS-optimized formatting
• Tighten language for manufacturing exec audiences
• Create a LinkedIn job post or internal posting version

Benefits

Health, Vision, and Dental Plan, PTO, 401(k) match, Life Insurance and more!

Continuous learning opportunities

Multi-generational workforce with long-term employees

Relocation assistance

- For this position, you must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa. This job was first posted by CyberCoders on 01/19/2026 and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or closed. CyberCoders is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, status as a crime victim, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring process includes AI screening for keywords and minimum qualifications. Recruiters review all results. CyberCoders will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local law, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. CyberCoders is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Individuals needing special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment can contact a member of our Human Resources team at [email protected] to make arrangements.