Training Manager – Plastics

• Plastics extrusion operations
• Injection molding operations
• Assembly and fabrication of piping, fittings, and related components
• Equipment setup, startup, shutdown, and troubleshooting
• Material handling and processing requirements
• Tooling, dies, molds, fixtures, and changeover practices
• Product quality checks and defect recognition
• Safe operating procedures and standard work

Provide direct coaching to operators, technicians, team leads, apprentices, and new hires to build technical skill and production discipline.

Training Program Development

• Create, maintain, and improve structured training programs for manufacturing roles.
• Develop training matrices, skills assessments, certification levels, and progression plans for key production positions.
• Build training schedules that align with production needs, staffing plans, apprenticeship requirements, and business priorities.
• Ensure training materials, work instructions, checklists, and assessments are accurate, current, and aligned with operational standards.

Apprentice Oversight

• Oversee apprentice training and development within plastics manufacturing operations.
• Coordinate apprentice rotations, skill progression, evaluations, and documentation.
• Partner with supervisors, mentors, and technical experts to ensure apprentices receive consistent, meaningful hands-on experience.
• Track apprentice performance and provide feedback, coaching, and corrective guidance where needed.

Operational Support

• Work directly with production leaders to identify skill gaps, recurring process issues, quality concerns, and training needs.
• Support process improvement initiatives by training employees on new methods, equipment, standards, and best practices.
• Reinforce safe work practices, housekeeping expectations, quality standards, and production discipline.
• Assist with onboarding new manufacturing employees and ensuring they are prepared to work safely and effectively.
• Training Documentation and Compliance
• Maintain accurate records of training completion, certifications, skills assessments, and apprentice progress.
• Ensure training programs support internal requirements, safety standards, quality systems, and regulatory expectations.
• Audit training effectiveness through observation, performance metrics, and feedback from production leadership.
• Continuously improve training content based on operational performance, quality issues, safety incidents, and employee development needs.

Qualifications

Minimum 15+ years of leadership, engineering, technical training, or senior operational experience in a plastics production environment.

Strong hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Plastics extrusion
• Injection molding
• Plastic pipe and fittings production
• Assembly and fabrication of plastic components
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and develop manufacturing employees in a shop-floor environment.
• Experience developing training schedules, skills matrices, work instructions, or structured training programs.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing safety, quality, productivity, standard work, and process control.
• Ability to communicate effectively with operators, apprentices, supervisors, engineers, maintenance teams, and senior leadership.
• Proven ability to lead by example and reinforce standards through practical, hands-on instruction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience managing or supporting apprenticeship programs.
• Technical degree, engineering degree, trade certification, or equivalent manufacturing experience.
• Experience in PVC, CPVC, HDPE, PP, PE, or other thermoplastic piping systems.
• Background in Lean Manufacturing, 5S, continuous improvement, or structured problem solving.
• Experience with ISO quality systems or regulated manufacturing environments.
• Prior supervisory, production leadership, maintenance, tooling, or process engineering experience.

Key Competencies

• Hands-on technical credibility
• Strong coaching and communication skills
• Practical problem-solving ability
• High safety and quality standards
• Ability to organize and manage multiple training priorities
• Strong follow-through and documentation discipline
• Patience and effectiveness when developing inexperienced employees
• Ability to challenge poor practices while building trust on the shop floor

Please submit your application via the ‘Apply’ button.