Zekelman Industries · 2 hours ago
Director of Training
Rochelle, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$150K/yr - $170K/yr
8+ years expZekelman Industries is the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America. As the Director of Training, you will be responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive training ecosystem across the organization to develop skilled employees and high-performing teams.
Building MaterialManufacturing
Responsibilities
Develop and own the enterprise training strategy aligned with business goals, workforce needs, and operational priorities
Establish training governance structures, including councils, standards, and cross-facility best-practice sharing
Build and maintain a unified training architecture that balances enterprise consistency with local adaptability
Design and deploy standardized onboarding programs for hourly, skilled trades, and leadership roles
Create competency-based training pathways for operators, maintenance, supervisors, and emerging leaders
Lead the development of training content, playbooks, SOPs, and digital learning modules
Ensure training programs integrate seamlessly with safety, quality, and operational requirements
Build and manage a comprehensive supervisor development curriculum focused on communication, coaching, accountability, and engagement
Partner with HR and Operations to identify leadership gaps and implement targeted development solutions
Support succession planning through structured learning pathways and capability assessments
Oversee training delivery across all facilities, ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to standards
Coach and support facility-level trainers, training coordinators, and operational leaders
Implement systems to track training completion, skill progression, and certification status
Develop training solutions that support retention, including onboarding, buddy programs, and supervisor coaching tools
Use workforce analytics to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for targeted interventions
Partner with Talent Acquisition to support hiring, ramp-up, and long-term workforce planning
Establish KPIs and dashboards to measure training effectiveness, ROI, and operational impact
Benchmark training programs against industry and cross-industry best practices
Drive continuous improvement through feedback loops, audits, and facility performance reviews
Perform other duties as assigned
Leads and promotes healthy and safe work practices as required by regulatory agencies and Company policy
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Education, Business, Operations, or related field
8+ years of experience in training, workforce development, or operational leadership, preferably in manufacturing or industrial environments
Proven experience building scalable, multi-site training systems
Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, workforce dynamics, and frontline leadership
Expertise in instructional design, adult learning principles, and competency-based training
Ability to translate complex operational processes into clear, actionable training materials
Exceptional communication, facilitation, and coaching skills
Data-driven mindset with experience using metrics to guide decisions
Strong project management skills and ability to collaborate cross-functionally
Preferred
Master's degree
Benefits
Competitive compensation.
Bonus plan and profit-sharing opportunities.
401(k) plan with a generous company match.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance with low-cost, high-quality options.
Tuition assistance program.
Paid vacation and holidays.
Employee loyalty awards and recognition programs.
Company
Zekelman Industries
Zekelman Industries is an independent steel tubular manufacturer.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
B
Barry M Zekelman
Chief Executive Officer
James Hays
President - Electrical
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