Learning & Development Manager

Learning & Development ManagerLiDestri Foods has grown from our roots as a pasta sauce and salsa manufacturer to become an R&D engine, formulating and producing innovative food products for our national and retailer brand partners. A family-run company based in Rochester, NY, LiDestri employs over 1,000 people across three U.S. locations. We have decades-long partnerships with some of the most respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the most highly inventive retailer brands.The Learning & Development Manager is responsible for leading and continuously improving LiDestri's enterprise learning experience by developing engaging learning solutions, administering and optimizing the Learning Management System (LMS), facilitating instructor-led training, and partnering with leaders to build organizational capability.This role serves as the owner of the company's digital learning ecosystem, ensuring employees have an intuitive, engaging, and effective learning experience from onboarding through leadership development. The position combines learning technology administration, instructional design, classroom facilitation, learning analytics, and continuous improvement to support employee development, operational excellence, compliance, and LiDestri's culture.Duties & Responsibilities:Learning Experience StrategyOwn and continuously improve the employee learning experience across digital, instructor-led, and blended learning environments.Partner with business leaders to identify organizational capability gaps and recommend learning solutions aligned with business objectives.Develop learning strategies that support onboarding, technical training, leadership development, compliance, and continuous professional growth.Champion a culture of continuous learning by promoting self-directed learning, knowledge sharing, and employee development.Research emerging learning technologies, AI-enabled learning tools, and adult learning best practices to continuously enhance the employee learning experience.Learning Management System (LMS) OwnershipServe as the primary administrator and product owner of LiDestri's Learning Management System.Own the day-to-day administration, governance, and continuous improvement of the Learning Management System.Maintain learning content, curricula, certifications, learning paths, and training assignments.Upload, publish, test, and maintain online learning modules and digital learning content.Configure user roles, permissions, organizational structures, and automated learning assignments.Develop and maintain LMS governance standards, operational procedures, documentation, and best practices.Ensure learning content functions properly across supported devices and platforms while maintaining a high-quality user experience.Provide technical support to learners, managers, instructors, and administrators while resolving system issues in partnership with vendors and IT.Coordinate LMS upgrades, testing, enhancements, integrations, and new feature implementation.Administer additional learning technologies that support employee development.Conduct quarterly audits of curricula, learning assignments, certifications, and employee data to ensure accuracy between the LMS and HRIS.Monitor required training assignments and proactively identify compliance risks.Instructor-Led Training & FacilitationDesign and facilitate engaging instructor-led, virtual, and blended learning experiences.Lead onboarding programs, supervisor development, leadership training, and professional development workshops.Develop facilitator guides, participant workbooks, job aids, presentations, videos, and supporting learning materials.Coach subject matter experts, supervisors, and managers to effectively facilitate training programs.Develop train-the-trainer programs that improve instructional consistency across the organization.Evaluate learner engagement and knowledge transfer, continuously improving learning delivery methods.Instructional Design & Content DevelopmentDesign learning experiences using adult learning principles and instructional design best practices.Develop eLearning modules, digital learning resources, videos, assessments, and performance support materials.Determine the most effective learning modality based on business needs, utilizing classroom instruction, coaching, digital learning, videos, simulations, or job aids.Maintain and continuously improve existing learning content to ensure relevance, consistency, and engagement.Learning Operations & AnalyticsDevelop executive dashboards and learning metrics that measure participation, compliance, learner engagement, and business impact.Generate recurring and ad hoc reports for business leaders.Analyze learning data to identify trends, recommend improvements, and enhance organizational capability.Monitor course completion rates and partner with leaders to address gaps.Measure training effectiveness through participant feedback, assessments, operational performance, and business outcomes.Partnership & Continuous ImprovementBuild collaborative partnerships with all functional leaders to identify learning priorities.Consult with leaders to diagnose performance challenges and recommend appropriate learning solutions.Coordinate external learning vendors, facilitators, and technology partners.Continuously improve learning processes, technologies, and employee experiences using feedback and analytics.ComplianceMaintain training records supporting regulatory, customer, food safety, and internal audit requirements.Ensure compliance training remains current and appropriately assigned.Work in a safe manner consistent with Company safety rules and regulations.Report food safety and quality concerns to personnel authorized to initiate corrective action.Required Education, Experience, & Skills:Bachelor's degree in Human Resources- Organizational Development, Education, Instructional Design, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.5 or more years of experience in Learning & Development, Corporate Training, Organizational Development, Instructional Design, or Learning Technologies.Experience administering a Learning Management System.Experience facilitating instructor-led training and leadership development programs.Experience developing eLearning and blended learning solutions.Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities.Experience partnering with business leaders to develop organizational learning solutions.Manufacturing or food manufacturing industry experience preferred.Strong knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design methodologiesDemonstrated experience administering Learning Management Systems and learning technologies.Excellent facilitation, presentation, and classroom management skills.Strong consulting and relationship building skills with the ability to influence leaders across the organization.Exceptional organizational, analytical, and project management skills.Ability to translate business needs into practical learning solutions.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Ability to analyze learning data and develop meaningful dashboards and reports.Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Learning Management Systems, and eLearning authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline, Rise, Camtasia, Canva, or similar platforms.Familiarity with HRIS/LMS integrations and learning analytics preferred.Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic manufacturing environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.Working Conditions:Regularly required to sit, use hands; typically used for office positionsOccasionally need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, with a potential of up to 25 poundsSemi-frequent exposure to manufacturing plant floor requiring the use of personal protective equipment (ear plugs, safety glasses, bump cap, skid-resistant leather shoes, etc.)Must follow Good Manufacturing Practices (hair net, no jewelry, no fake nails or eyelashes, no food/drink, gum, etc. in manufacturing plant)Time split between Plant (production floor) and Office environmentsEnvironment/work areas can be very wet, slippery and they have continuous forklift trafficWill handle and work around various moving equipment and chemicals.Disclaimer: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities. The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change.