Learning & Development Specialist

Learning & Development Specialist

Location: North East England

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

A leading manufacturing organisation is seeking a Learning & Development Specialist to drive training compliance, workforce capability and learning initiatives across a busy operational site.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced L&D professional to take ownership of training planning, compliance and skills development, ensuring colleagues have the knowledge, capability and support required to work safely, effectively and in line with operational standards.

• Lead and coordinate site-wide training plans, compliance activities and development programmes.
• Manage training schedules, training matrices and learning records, ensuring all data is accurate and audit-ready.
• Conduct training needs analysis and skills gap assessments to support workforce planning and future capability requirements.
• Deliver and coordinate a range of learning activities, including SOP training, induction programmes, compliance training and project-related initiatives.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Health & Safety, HR and site leadership teams to identify and address development needs.
• Monitor training completion, compliance and effectiveness, providing regular reporting and insights to stakeholders.
• Support operational projects, new process implementation and launch readiness activities through effective training plans.
• Manage external training providers, budgets and learning resources.
• Coach and support managers to build capability, ownership and continuous improvement across their teams.
• Ensure training compliance standards are maintained and support successful internal and external audits.

• Experience in a Learning & Development, Training, Capability or Workforce Development role.
• Strong understanding of training compliance, training delivery and learning best practices.
• Experience creating and managing training plans, learning records and compliance reporting.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience analysing skills gaps and developing practical learning solutions.
• Proactive, self-motivated and passionate about developing people and improving capability.

• Experience with in manufacturing, FMCG, engineering, food production or another operational environment.
• Knowledge of health & safety, compliance and audit requirements.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) or training databases.
• Training, coaching or learning and development qualifications.
• Experience supporting change programmes, continuous improvement initiatives or operational projects.

• Opportunity to shape learning and capability across a large operational site.
• Broad and varied role with significant stakeholder exposure.
• Supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.