Technical Training & Certification Program Manager

The Technical Training & Certification Program Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining a standardized technical training and certification program across manufacturing operations. This role ensures technicians, operators, and maintenance personnel are trained and certified to safely and effectively operate, maintain, and troubleshoot manufacturing and packaging equipment.

The role will lead the development of core skill-based certification modules as well as OEM-specific equipment certifications, working closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Safety, Quality, and external equipment manufacturers.

Training Program Development

* Design and deploy a company-wide technical training framework aligned with safety, quality, reliability, and operational excellence objectives.
* Develop tiered certification programs (foundational, intermediate, advanced) for maintenance technicians and technical operators.
* Define required skill modules by role (electrical, mechanical, controls, automation, utilities, packaging, and process systems).
* Establish certification standards, testing criteria, recertification requirements, and governance.

Certification & Skills Management

* Create and manage a formal certification process including written assessments, hands-on evaluations, and observed task sign-offs.
* Maintain skills matrices and certification records within LMS, CMMS, or enterprise systems.
* Ensure certifications align with regulatory, safety, and food manufacturing requirements.

OEM & Vendor Collaboration

* Partner with OEMs to develop equipment-specific training and certification programs for key assets.
* Standardize OEM training content for use across multiple manufacturing sites.
* Coordinate OEM-led training sessions, train-the-trainer programs, and certification assessments.
* Ensure OEM certifications align with internal maintenance and operational standards.

Cross-Functional Alignment

* Collaborate with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and HR to align training with business needs.
* Support new equipment installations and capital projects through training readiness.
* Align training content with preventive maintenance strategies, troubleshooting guides, and standard work.

Continuous Improvement

* Measure training effectiveness using KPIs such as certification coverage, equipment downtime, and maintenance quality.
* Continuously improve training content based on operational feedback and performance trends.
* Standardize and share best practices across sites.

Required Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Technical Education, or related field (or equivalent experience).
* 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, or technical training.
* Experience building structured technical training and certification programs.
* Strong understanding of industrial equipment and maintenance fundamentals.
* Experience working with OEMs and external vendors.

Preferred Qualifications

* Experience in food, beverage, dairy, or regulated manufacturing environments.
* Familiarity with TPM, Reliability Engineering, or Maintenance Excellence frameworks.
* Experience with LMS and CMMS systems (e.g., SAP PM).
* Electrical, mechanical, or controls background.
* Instructional design or train-the-trainer experience.