Fast Facts

The Director of Product SME Advanced Manufacturing is responsible for designing and developing advanced training solutions for the manufacturing sector, particularly skilled trades roles, by leveraging hands-on experience and innovative content development skills.

Responsibilities: Key responsibilities include conducting industry analysis, developing competency-based curricular frameworks, creating training materials, and facilitating partnerships with educational and industry stakeholders to ensure high-quality training programs.

Skills: The ideal candidate should possess advanced manufacturing expertise, curriculum design experience, project management skills, and proficiency with learning management systems and instructional technology.

Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include experience with training programs for community colleges, knowledge of competency-based education, and familiarity with food manufacturing compliance regulations.

Location: This is a remote job based in the United States, with occasional travel to advanced manufacturing sites required.

Compensation: $75000 - $85000 / Annually

POSITION TITLE: Director, Product SME Advanced Manufacturing

Location: Remote (with travel to advanced manufacturing sites as needed, approximately 15-20%)

Reports To: Senior Director, Strategy & Product Design

Employment type: Fulltime

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

We are seeking an experienced Subject Matter Expert (SME) & Curriculum Developer with hands-on advanced manufacturing experience to design and develop scalable training solutions and instructor resources for skilled trades roles in the manufacturing sector.

This role blends:

• Technical expertise in maintenance operations
• Content development skills
• Digital innovation

You will support the creation of comprehensive hybrid learning models for roles such as:

• Maintenance Technicians
• Maintenance Trainees
• Industrial Electromechanics

This is a highly collaborative position requiring direct engagement with plant leaders, technical subject matter experts (SMEs), community college partners, and external training organizations to create repeatable, data-informed, competency-based, and industry-aligned training programs and instructor resources for our national advanced manufacturing partners.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Discovery & Industry Analysis (20%)

Field Research & Needs Assessment:

• Conduct comprehensive field research and site visits to advanced manufacturing plants to analyze training needs and industry requirements
• Shadow existing maintenance training programs (outside of Per Scholas) to identify competency gaps, training strengths, and scalability opportunities
• Benchmark industry best practices across multiple manufacturing sectors and geographic regions
• Analyze job market trends and emerging technologies affecting maintenance roles

Competency Mapping & Standards Development:

• Map detailed technical competencies for skilled trades roles based on extensive industry analysis and employer input
• Translate technical competencies into structured, teachable learning modules
• Develop industry-aligned competency standards and/or certification requirements
• Create career pathway documentation and advancement frameworks
• Design competency frameworks that support multi-level career progression, including a structured path from entry-level trainee roles to certified Maintenance Technicians.
• Create detailed course outlines, learning objectives, and competency maps aligned with industry standards and employer requirements

Technology & Equipment Specification:

• Research and specify training equipment, tools, and technologies necessary for comprehensive program delivery
• Develop laboratory design specifications, equipment procurement guides, and setup documentation, if necessary
• Evaluate emerging educational technologies and recommend integration strategies
• Create technology implementation guides and instructor training materials
• Research and specify training equipment including conveyor systems, servo motors, packaging automation, pneumatic controls, and sanitation-friendly components used in food production environments or similar industries.

Content Design & Development (50%)

Comprehensive Curriculum Architecture:

• Design modular, competency-based curriculum frameworks that can be delivered by qualified instructors across multiple locations
• Develop progressive skill-building sequences from foundational concepts to advanced troubleshooting and problem-solving
• Design flexible curriculum architecture supporting various delivery formats (hands-on, virtual, hybrid)
• Learning Materials Creation:
• Develop comprehensive instructor manuals with detailed lesson plans, teaching notes, and facilitation guides
• Develop multimedia learning aids including videos, animations, simulations, and interactive demonstrations
• Create learner workbooks, handouts, and reference materials that are self-contained and instructor-independent
• Design hands-on laboratory exercises, projects, and practical assessments with complete setup instructions
• Build digital learning modules compatible with industry-standard LMS platforms (SCORM/xAPI, Canvas, Blackboard)

Assessment & Credentialing Framework Development:

• Create comprehensive assessment strategies including practical demonstrations, written examinations, and portfolio-based evaluations
• Develop detailed rubrics and evaluation criteria for consistent assessment delivery across instructors and locations
• Design competency verification processes and industry-recognized credentialing pathways
• Establish quality assurance frameworks for maintaining assessment standard

Instructor Training & Support Materials (10%)

Train-the-Trainer Resource Development:

• Design comprehensive instructor training resources covering technical content, teaching methodologies, and assessment procedures
• Develop instructor onboarding materials for knowledge transfer
• Build instructor resource libraries including technical references, troubleshooting guides, and industry updates

Stakeholder Collaboration & Program Support (20%)

Partnership Facilitation:

• Act as technical liaison between manufacturing SMEs, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations
• Facilitate curriculum review sessions with industry experts and employer representatives
• Coordinate with community colleges and technical schools to ensure curriculum alignment and transferability
• Support partnership development with equipment manufacturers and technology vendors

Implementation Support & Scaling:

• Provide technical guidance for program implementation across multiple sites and institutions
• Develop standardized classroom delivery processes and instructional quality guidelines tailored to hands-on technical training in advanced manufacturing
• Create business cases and ROI analyses to support program expansion and sustainability

Communication & Documentation:

• Create comprehensive program documentation including implementation guides, instructor manuals, and learner materials
• Help develop marketing materials and program descriptions for recruitment and stakeholder engagement
• Prepare detailed reports on program development progress, industry alignment, and outcome projections
• Maintain version control and continuous improvement processes for all training materials

WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO US:

Required Qualifications

Manufacturing & Technical Expertise:

• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing environments with direct maintenance operations experience
• Minimum 1 year of demonstrable work experience as a Maintenance Technician, Electromechanic, or equivalent industrial maintenance role
• Proven expertise with manufacturing systems including PLCs, SCADA systems, predictive maintenance technologies, and automated production equipment
• Deep understanding of regulatory requirements including OSHA safety standards, EPA environmental regulations, and industry-specific compliance

Curriculum Design & Development Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of experience in instructional design, curriculum development, or technical training program facilitation
• Demonstrated success in developing or providing training with competency-based education materials and assessment frameworks
• Demonstrable experience in translating employer feedback into immersive and engaging educational/training content 
• Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into teachable, structured learning experiences
• Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS) and e-learning authoring tools
• Familiarity with multimedia content creation tools and instructional technology integration
• Experience with virtual laboratory environments and simulation-based learning platforms

Project Management & Communication:

• Exceptional project management skills with ability to manage multiple concurrent analysis, design, and development projects/tasks
• Outstanding written communication skills with experience creating detailed technical documentation and instructor materials
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills for stakeholder engagement and instructor training
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams including technical experts, educators, and industry partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing training programs for community colleges, technical schools, or workforce development organizations
• Professional certifications in maintenance-related disciplines (electrical, mechanical, reliability, safety)
• Knowledge of scaling training programs across multiple locations or enterprises.
• Hands-on experience with virtual labs, augmented reality (AR), or interactive simulations for technical learning.
• Experience with SCORM/xAPI content development and learning analytics platforms
• Familiarity with competency-based education and credentialing frameworks.
• Experience with working in supply chain industries.
• Knowledge of equipment common to food processing (e.g., conveyor systems, automated packaging lines) is a plus.
• Experience in food manufacturing or similar regulated industries (e.g., CPG, pharma) preferred, including familiarity with GMP, HACCP, FDA/USDA compliance, and sanitation procedures.
• Experience developing training for equipment common in food manufacturing, including automated fillers, case packers, palletizers, CIP systems, and hygienic conveyors.

Personal Characteristics

• You thrive in a creative, inventive, fast-paced startup environment with people who are passionate about their work and mission.
• You are quality-driven, results-oriented, and a forward-looking catalyst for social change.
• You have a collaborative and flexible work style. You're excited to work cross-functionally with other departments and independently.
• You are an effective communicator with strong oral and written skills.
• You are tech-savvy and learn new tools quickly. 
• You exhibit exceptional attentiveness to detail and time management.
• You stand behind our mission, believing that individuals from any community should have access to well-paying career positions and that talent should be recognized and recruited from many diverse sources.

For this role specifically, we are targeting a salary of $80,000/year, with a range between $75,000/year and $85,000/year, where the difference in salary is typically determined by several factors, including geography in which the selected candidate resides, and alignment with qualifications and experience.

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