Technical Training& Instructional Design Specialist

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Training Needs Analysis

• Conduct training needs assessments based on production requirements, competency gaps, quality performance, process changes, audit findings, customer requirements, and business priorities.
• Develop and maintain role-based and process-based competency matrices for production operators, inspectors, technicians, and team leaders.
• Identify training requirements for:
  • New hires
  • Transferred or promoted employees
  • New equipment and processes
  • New-product introduction
  • Revised work instructions and specifications
  • Quality issues and customer complaints
  • Process deviations and audit findings
  • Expired or suspended certifications
• Coordinate with department supervisors and process owners to prioritize and schedule training activities.

Training Program Development

• Design structured technical training programs for optical lens manufacturing processes.

• Design and develop comprehensive technical learning curricula using instructional design methodologies (e.g., ADDIE, SAM, competency-based learning) to ensure training programs effectively build technical knowledge, skills, and on-the-job proficiency.

• Develop and maintain:
  • Training modules
  • Participant handbooks
  • Trainer guides
  • Visual work instructions
  • Practical exercises
  • Knowledge assessments
  • Practical skill assessments
  • Certification checklists
  • Refresher and retraining materials
• Translate engineering drawings, process specifications, work instructions, quality standards, and equipment requirements into clear operator-level training content.
• Ensure all training materials are current, controlled, and aligned with approved procedures.
• Apply adult-learning principles and competency-based training methods.

Training Delivery

• Deliver classroom, workstation, hands-on, and on-the-job training.
• Conduct technical training related to:
  • Optical material identification and handling
  • Lens drawing and specification interpretation
  • Manufacturing routing and traveler requirements
  • Grinding, generating, lapping, polishing, edging, centering, cleaning, coating, and inspection
  • Machine setup, operation, shutdown, and basic troubleshooting
  • Tooling, fixtures, blocking, mounting, and alignment
  • Process parameter control
  • Defect identification and prevention
  • Surface quality and cosmetic inspection
  • Dimensional and optical measurement methods
  • Contamination control and proper lens handling
  • Standard work, 5S, Lean Manufacturing, and safety requirements
• Provide coaching and remedial training to employees who do not initially meet qualification requirements.
• Monitor trainee progress and provide timely feedback to supervisors and department managers.

Operator Qualification and Certification

• Develop and administer a standardized operator qualification and certification system.
• Define certification criteria for each process, machine, product family, inspection method, and skill level.
• Conduct written, oral, visual, and practical competency assessments.
• Coordinate practical assessments with authorized Production, Engineering, and Quality assessors.
• Verify that operators meet all training, knowledge, safety, quality, and practical performance requirements before certification.
• Issue, renew, suspend, or recommend revocation of certifications in accordance with approved procedures.
• Monitor certification expiration dates and coordinate recertification activities.
• Ensure only qualified and certified employees independently perform controlled manufacturing and inspection processes.

Training Effectiveness and Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate training effectiveness through:
  • Trainee feedback
  • Knowledge-test results
  • Practical assessment results
  • Supervisor observations
  • Quality and productivity performance
  • Audit and compliance results
• Track post-training performance to determine whether skills are effectively applied in the workplace.
• Analyze training-related quality issues, recurring errors, and certification failures.
• Update training methods and materials based on feedback, process changes, and performance trends.
• Support corrective and preventive actions requiring retraining or competency development.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing, standard work, problem-solving, and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Training Records and Reporting

• Maintain complete and accurate training and certification records.
• Track employee training status, assessment results, certification level, effective date, expiration date, and recertification requirements.
• Maintain training dashboards, skills matrices, and certification reports.
• Monitor and report:
  • Training plan completion
  • Certification completion
  • Certification validity
  • Expiring and expired certifications
  • First-time assessment pass rate
  • Training effectiveness
  • Retraining requirements
  • Training backlog
• Ensure records are available for internal, customer, and regulatory audits.
• Conduct routine audits of training records and operator certification status.

Cross-Functional Support

• Partner with Process Engineering, Quality Engineering, Equipment Engineering, and subject matter experts to translate complex manufacturing processes into structured, scalable, operator-focused learning programs. 
• Support Quality Engineering in developing inspection and defect-recognition training.
• Coordinate with Production supervisors to schedule training and certification activities.
• Support Equipment Engineering during equipment installation, qualification, and operator turnover.
• Participate in new-product introduction, process deployment, and production-readiness activities.
• Support manpower readiness, cross-training, succession planning, and skill development programs.

Education & Experience

          Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Education, Optics, Physics, or a related technical field.

• Relevant technical certification or extensive manufacturing experience may be considered in place of a degree.

  Experience

• Experience designing and implementing competency-based technical training programs within a manufacturing environment is strongly preferred. 
• Experience applying adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies to technical manufacturing training programs. 

• Experience developing curricula from concept through implementation, including learning objectives, assessments, instructor guides, participant materials, and certification programs.

• At least 5 - 7 years of experience in manufacturing, technical training, process engineering, production, quality, or a related technical function.
• Experience in optical lens manufacturing is highly preferred.
• Experience developing and administering operator qualification or certification programs is an advantage.
• Experience preparing technical training materials and conducting hands-on training is preferred.

• bi-lingual is a plus (English, Chinese and Filipino/Tagalog).

Technical Knowledge

• Optical lens manufacturing processes
• Engineering drawings and optical specifications
• Optical materials and handling requirements
• Surface quality and cosmetic defect criteria
• Dimensional and optical inspection methods
• Manufacturing equipment, tooling, and fixtures
• Process control and standard work
• Root-cause analysis and corrective action
• Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement
• Training needs analysis and competency-based training
• Operator qualification and certification systems
• Quality management systems and document control
• Microsoft Office applications
• Learning management systems, skills databases, or training trackers

Skills

Required Skills and Competencies

• Instructional Design and Curriculum Development 
• Adult Learning Theory and Learning Science 
• Competency-Based Learning Program Design 
• Technical Writing and Content Development 
• Learning Evaluation and Program Effectiveness Measurement 

• Learning Technologies (LMS, eLearning authoring tools, multimedia development)

• Technical training and facilitation
• Training needs analysis
• Curriculum and instructional material development
• Hands-on coaching and mentoring
• Competency assessment
• Technical communication
• Data analysis and reporting
• Planning and organization
• Attention to detail
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Problem-solving
• Continuous improvement
• Records management and document control
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly
• Ability to work effectively with employees at different skill and experience levels

Key Performance Indicators

The Technical Trainer will be evaluated using the following key performance indicators:

• Training plan completion of at least 95%
• On-time training completion of at least 95%
• Operator certification completion of at least 95%
• Valid certification compliance of 100% for personnel performing controlled processes
• Overdue certification rate of 0%
• First-time certification pass rate of at least 85%
• Post-training effectiveness rate of at least 90%
• Training record accuracy of at least 98%
• Training material revision compliance of 100%
• Corrective training closure of at least 95%
• Average trainee feedback rating of at least 4.2 out of 5
• Reduction in training-related defects and recurring process errors

Working Conditions

• Primarily assigned within an optical manufacturing facility.
• Regular exposure to production equipment, inspection stations, clean areas, and controlled manufacturing environments.
• May be required to wear safety glasses, gloves, protective clothing, cleanroom garments, or other personal protective equipment.
• May require prolonged standing, workstation observation, and hands-on process demonstration.
• May require flexible working hours to support multiple shifts, weekend training, production schedules, equipment qualification, or urgent retraining requirements.
• Must comply with all safety, environmental, quality, and clean-handling requirements.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work