Operations Training Lead

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: Director, Learning and Development

Location: GLF Head Office, 10 Carlson Court

The pay range for the role is $75,300 to $125,300 plus bonus, comprehensive benefits, retirement savings plan, paid vacation, and other perks and opportunities.

Job Scope

The Operations Training Lead works directly with manufacturing sites to identify training needs and employee skill gaps, then develops, delivers, or coordinates practical training to address those needs. The role partners with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and Human Resources to ensure employees receive clear, consistent, and job-relevant training on equipment, processes, procedures, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements. The role also supports the documentation and verification of employee training and competency across multiple manufacturing locations.

Responsibilities

• Work with site leaders, supervisors, subject matter experts, and employees to identify job-specific training needs and skill gaps.
• Map the knowledge and skills required for priority operational roles and compare them with current employee capability.
• Design, develop, update, and maintain practical training programs and materials for technical skills, equipment operation, SOPs, food safety, quality requirements, safety procedures, workplace culture, and regulatory compliance.
• Deliver classroom, hands-on, and digital training to new and existing employees, or coordinate delivery through qualified site trainers and subject matter experts.
• Build training plans that clearly identify the required content, target employees, delivery method, trainer, timing, and competency requirements.
• Observe work processes and consult with site teams to ensure training reflects the equipment, procedures, risks, and operating conditions employees encounter on the job.
• Coordinate training for new equipment, process changes, revised procedures, compliance requirements, and other operational changes.
• Develop and support site-based trainers and subject matter experts through train-the-trainer sessions, coaching, practical tools, and clear delivery expectations.
• Create and maintain consistent training materials, skills checklists, competency assessments, training records, and supporting documentation.
• Work with supervisors and subject matter experts to verify that employees can safely and consistently perform required job tasks following training.
• Track training completion, competency status, and compliance requirements through the Learning Management System and other approved tracking tools.
• Review training records and follow up with sites to address missing, incomplete, or overdue training and documentation.
• Gather feedback from employees, trainers, and site leaders to evaluate whether training is practical, understood, and being applied on the job.
• Update training content when equipment, processes, SOPs, regulations, or operational requirements change.
• Travel regularly to manufacturing sites, primarily within southern Ontario, with travel expected to be approximately 50%.

Requirements:

• College diploma, professional certification, or equivalent experience in training, adult education, instructional design, human resources, manufacturing, or a related field.
• At least three years of experience developing, delivering, or coordinating training in a manufacturing environment. Food manufacturing experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with operational teams to identify training needs, assess skill gaps, and develop practical training solutions.
• Experience creating hands-on training materials such as work instructions, facilitator guides, job aids, skills checklists, qualification guides, and competency assessments.
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills, with the ability to deliver training to employees, supervisors, trainers, and subject matter experts.
• Ability to learn and understand manufacturing processes, equipment, procedures, and job requirements sufficiently to develop accurate and practical training.
• Experience working with supervisors, operators, technical specialists, and site leaders in a hands-on operational environment.
• Experience using a Learning Management System or other tracking tools to maintain training records, monitor completion, and support compliance reporting.
• Strong organization and follow-through, with the ability to coordinate multiple training activities across several sites.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical or procedural information into straightforward training materials.
• Ability to work independently at manufacturing sites while maintaining effective working relationships with site and corporate teams.
• Project coordination experience is an asset.
• Regular travel to manufacturing sites is required. Access to reliable transportation is required.

Gay Lea Foods is a Canadian, dairy farmer‑owned co‑operative with a clear purpose: to enrich life with dairy. Founded in 1958, the co‑operative produces high‑quality dairy products while creating lasting value for farming families, meaningful opportunities for employees, and positive impact in communities across Canada. As a co‑operative, Gay Lea Foods believes that when the business succeeds, its members, people, and communities should succeed along with it. To learn more, visit gaylea.com.

Gay Lea Foods is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in our workplace.

Reasonable accommodation is available upon request throughout our recruitment and selection process.

Gay Lea Foods may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the recruitment process, including screening and assessment.

We are currently accepting applications for this open position.

Thank you for your interest in Gay Lea Foods.

Wishing you all the best with your career search!