Trainer

Job Title: Instructional Designer – Manufacturing Trainer

Job Description

This role designs and develops high-quality learning solutions that support manufacturing organizations and plant environments. The Instructional Designer – Manufacturing Trainer creates engaging, performance-focused learning experiences that enhance safety, quality, standardized work, launch readiness, productivity, and overall operational performance. The position collaborates closely with manufacturing stakeholders, subject matter experts, and frontline representatives to ensure learning programs are practical, relevant, and aligned with business goals.

Responsibilities

• Advise manufacturing business partners, plant stakeholders, and subject matter experts on adult learning principles, performance-based learning strategies, and common misconceptions in workplace learning.

• Conduct needs analyses to identify performance gaps in manufacturing environments, determine root causes, and recommend targeted learning and performance support interventions.

• Partner with subject matter experts, stakeholders, frontline representatives, and leaders through interviews, observations, and working sessions to validate learning needs and understand operational realities.

• Use insights, data, and business context to align learning strategies with plant, launch, quality, safety, and productivity goals.

• Design and develop learning experiences using methodologies such as ADDIE, SAM, rapid prototyping, action-based learning, and scenario-based learning.

• Create engaging, practice-focused learning activities that mirror real manufacturing challenges, including equipment, process, quality, safety, troubleshooting, and launch-related scenarios.

• Develop design documents, learning objectives, assessments, and success criteria that support performance on the plant floor and within manufacturing support roles.

• Ensure learning solutions are practical, performance-focused, and aligned with business and operational objectives.

• Develop multi-modal learning assets including eLearning, instructor-led training (ILT), virtual instructor-led training (VILT) materials, videos, workshops, simulations, and job aids for varied manufacturing environments.

• Write or refine instructional materials, facilitator guides, scripts, standard-work support resources, and communication pieces that translate complex technical concepts into clear, usable learning content.

• Collaborate with subject matter experts, content writers, learning program managers, coordinators, project sponsors, and manufacturing stakeholders to gather content, validate technical accuracy, and ensure cross-functional alignment.

• Support the Learning Program Manager in scoping timelines, resources, dependencies, and development expectations for manufacturing learning initiatives.

• Manage learning design and development projects using agile design approaches to streamline production and respond to changing manufacturing priorities, launches, and process updates.

• Support learning management system (LMS) setup and integration of manufacturing learning materials, including curricula, job aids, and supporting assets.

• Maintain effective document control for all training materials and ensure learning content remains current and aligned with operational changes.

• Prepare and maintain a professional portfolio of instructional design work to demonstrate capability in manufacturing-focused learning solutions.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in training development and curriculum development for manufacturing or operational environments.

• Demonstrated ability to design and develop learning experiences using methodologies such as ADDIE, SAM, rapid prototyping, action-based learning, and scenario-based learning.

• Strong capability in developing multi-modal learning assets, including eLearning, ILT/VILT materials, videos, workshops, simulations, and job aids.

• Experience conducting needs analyses to identify performance gaps, determine root causes, and recommend targeted learning interventions.

• Ability to translate complex technical and manufacturing concepts into clear, practical learning content and standard-work support resources.

• Proficiency with learning management systems (LMS) for setting up and integrating manufacturing learning materials and curricula.

• Competence in training instruction and facilitation for diverse manufacturing audiences.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools to support design documentation, content development, and project communication.

• Strong collaboration skills for working with subject matter experts, stakeholders, frontline representatives, and cross-functional teams.

• Effective project management skills, including experience using agile design approaches to manage timelines, resources, and changing priorities.

• A professional portfolio of instructional design work; a portfolio link is required on the resume, and submissions without one will not be reviewed.

• Eligibility to convert to direct employment without sponsorship.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience advising business partners and plant stakeholders on adult learning principles and performance-based learning strategies.

• Background in developing learning solutions that support safety, quality, standardized work, launch readiness, and productivity in manufacturing environments.

• Experience creating practice-focused scenarios that reflect real equipment, process, quality, safety, troubleshooting, and launch challenges.

• Familiarity with utilization management and document control practices related to training materials.

• Experience collaborating with learning program managers, coordinators, and project sponsors on large-scale learning initiatives.

• Strong written communication skills for drafting facilitator guides, scripts, communication pieces, and learner-facing materials.

• Comfort working with data and business context to align learning strategies with operational goals.

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to small teams and broader divisions.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Detroit, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $35.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Detroit,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 13, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.