Manufacturing Training Manager (m/w/d)

Job Description

The Training Manager is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and optimizing operations training programs across multiple production cells and departments. This individual serves as the central point of contact for employee development activities, partnering closely with supervisors, trainers, production leaders, Quality, EHS, and Operations to ensure that training resources are effectively deployed and workforce capabilities keep pace with manufacturing growth.

This role is responsible for maintaining training records, tracking employee proficiency and qualification status, identifying training gaps, balancing training workloads across cells, and helping Operations build sustainable training capacity. The Training Manager will provide visibility into organizational training progress and support data-driven decisions regarding workforce development, cross-training, certification, and onboarding effectiveness.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or Trade School required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, Engineering, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field strongly preferred.

Experience Desired

• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, workforce development, training coordination, production supervision, or a related field.
• Experience tracking employee qualifications, training progress, certifications, and proficiency levels.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, work instructions, safety requirements, and operational workflows.
• Experience with Training Within Industry (TWI), Job Breakdown Sheets (JBS), skills matrices, or structured manufacturing training systems preferred.
• Experience coordinating activities among multiple departments and stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, training databases, learning management systems, and reporting tools
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively with supervisors, trainers, and employees at all organizational levels

Key Responsibilities

Training Coordination & Workforce Development

• Develop training strategies to improve onboarding and development timelines for newly recruited employees
• Coordinate training activities across multiple manufacturing cells, departments, and shifts
• Work with supervisors and trainers to identify training needs, prioritize resources, and maximize training opportunities
• Facilitate cross-training initiatives to build workforce flexibility and operational resilience
• Help ensure training activities align with production schedules while maintaining employee development objectives
• Support development and execution of annual and strategic workforce training plans

Training Capacity Management

• Evaluate training capacity across manufacturing operations and recommend adjustments as business needs change
• Identify bottlenecks that may limit employee advancement or qualification progression
• Coordinate deployment of trainers, material, or subject matter experts to areas experiencing elevated training demand
• Support succession planning and workforce readiness initiatives

Training Tracking & Reporting

• Review employee training records, qualification status, certification records, skills matrices, track gaps, and partner with supervisors to drive closure
• Track employee progress through onboarding, qualification, and proficiency milestones
• Develop and maintain visual management tools that communicate workforce capability and training progress
• Produce training performance reports for operations leadership
• Monitor training completion rates, certification status, cross-training coverage, and workforce readiness metrics.
• Ensure training documentation is accurate, complete, and audit-ready

Performance & Proficiency Management

• Maintain proficiency and qualification tracking for all employees in training.
• Monitor progress toward certification and competency requirements.
• Work with supervisors and trainers to identify employees needing additional coaching or developmental support.
• Assist in evaluating training effectiveness through performance data, quality trends, safety results, and productivity metrics.
• Support efforts to correlate training outcomes with operational performance.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify gaps in training programs and recommend improvements
• Assist in the development, implementation, and standardization of training processes and documentation
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to onboarding, workforce development, training effectiveness, and operational excellence
• Participate in audits, reviews, and assessments of training systems and records
• Help ensure training programs evolve alongside manufacturing processes and business growth

Competencies

• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building abilities
• Ability to influence without direct authority
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making capability
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in reporting, metrics, and dashboard development

Success Measures

The Training Manager will be measured on:

• Onboarding completion and qualification rates.
• Employee proficiency progression.
• Cross-training coverage across manufacturing cells.
• Training capacity utilization.
• Training record accuracy and compliance.
• Workforce readiness metrics.
• Reduction of training bottlenecks.
• Supervisor satisfaction with training support.
• Improvement in quality, safety, and operational performance linked to workforce development initiatives.

Position is located in the Northwest Hills of Torrington, CT. No relocation is available for this position. No Agencies Please.

Equal Opportunity Employer

FuelCell Energy is an equal-opportunity employer committed to an inclusive and safe work environment for people of all backgrounds.

We offer a competitive compensation package as well as comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, company-paid life/disability insurance, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan, and generous paid leave.

The successful candidate is required to complete a drug screen, criminal background check, and employment and education verification.

FuelCell Energy, Inc. is committed to ensuring that its application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all U.S. job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an application, please send an email with your resume to [email protected] or contact us by calling 860-496-2222. Please indicate the specifics of the assistance needed.

NOTE: This dedicated phone line and email address are designed exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be acknowledged. A response to your request may take up to two business days.

No agency submissions please. Resumes submitted to any FuelCell Energy employee without a current, signed and valid contract in place with the FuelCell Energy Recruiting team for this position will become the property of FuelCell Energy and no agency fees will be paid.

For more information about FuelCell Energy and our available openings, please visit our website: https://www.fuelcellenergy.com/careers

We thank all candidates for their interest in a career with FuelCell Energy. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.