WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM MANAGER

Acme Industries • Elk Grove Village, IL

6d

About The Position

Acme Industries is a contract manufacturer serving Fortune 500 clients with high-quality precision components. We specialize in medium-volume, medium-mix production for aerospace, defense, power generation, mining, transportation, and other industries. Benefits begin immediately: Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, Flexible Spending, Life Insurance, and Short- and Long-Term Disability. The Position: We are seeking a Workforce Development & Apprenticeship Program Manager to lead and grow our skilled-trades workforce development programs for laborers and machinists. This role owns the design, delivery, documentation, and compliance of our new-employee immersion, mentorship, instructional training, and Department of Labor (DOL)-registered apprenticeship programs. This position is ideal for someone who has run programs end-to-end, is comfortable teaching and facilitating training, and understands how to keep programs audit-ready and grant-compliant while working directly with shop-floor employees. This position is not a fit for candidates focused primarily on recruiting, general HR, or administrative coordination without instructional or program ownership experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Workforce Development, Education, Manufacturing, HR, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3+ years of experience in workforce development, training, apprenticeship administration, or related roles
• Experience teaching or facilitating adult learning programs
• Working knowledge of apprenticeship documentation and compliance requirements
• Working knowledge of manufacturing, machining, or skilled-trade environments
• Strong communication skills and comfort working on the manufacturing floor

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience administering a DOL-registered apprenticeship program
• Experience with grant-funded workforce initiatives
• Familiarity with SME CMfgA or similar manufacturing credentials
• Bilingual (English/Polish) a plus

Responsibilities

• Workforce Development & Immersion Programs Own and continuously improve structured onboarding and immersion programs for production employees
• Ensure training activities are standardized, documented, and aligned with workforce grants and apprenticeship standards
• Serve as a primary point of contact for employees during early skill development and integration
• Mentorship & Train-the-Trainer Leadership Build and manage a formal mentor program for skilled trades
• Design and teach Train-the-Trainer courses to prepare mentors for effective on-the-job instruction
• Set clear expectations, learning objectives, and accountability for mentors
• Track mentor and trainee progress using auditable documentation
• DOL Apprenticeship Program Administration Act as the program owner for our DOL-registered apprenticeship program
• Manage apprentice enrollment, OJT tracking, related instruction (RTI), wage progression, and completions
• Maintain apprenticeship standards, work process schedules, and required records
• Prepare for and support DOL reviews, audits, and site visits
• Instruction & Curriculum Delivery Teach and facilitate foundational manufacturing and workplace skills courses
• Deliver instruction aligned with the SME Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) curriculum, as applicable
• Coordinate with external education or workforce partners when needed
• Maintain attendance records, assessments, and completion documentation
• Grant Alignment & Reporting Support workforce development grants by ensuring program activities meet defined scopes and deliverables
• Track and report required participation, training, and outcome metrics
• Assist with documentation for grant renewals, reporting, and audits

Benefits

• immediate health benefits (1st Day of Employment): medical, dental and vision insurance
• FREE short-term and long-term disability and life insurance starting from 1st day of employment
• Hire on Bonus
• 401k with company match
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Employee assistance program
• Tuition assistance
• Gain sharing bonuses
• Clean and safe manufacturing facility
• Weekly paychecks
• 10% 2nd Shift differential (in addition to hourly rate)
• Quarterly Food/Treats (Food Truck, Ice Cream, etc.)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager