Technical Skills Trainer at Unilever

JOB PURPOSE

• The Technical Skills Trainer leads all technical training interventions for the sourcing units and is necessarily an experienced mechanical and/or electrical technician with an excellent ability to teach, coach and mentor. 
• The Skills Trainer will coordinate and deliver course training for all technical levels, develop Technical Operators, and Technician Apprentices in accordance with Unilever curriculum requirements.  They will liaise with other training providers where it is advantageous to use their capabilities. 
• Within the factories, the Skills Trainer will continue to support the development and progression of trained Technicians, Artisans and Technical Operators through the skills audit and the HR for Factories Integrated Training system. Operational training interventions will be varied, but often involve legislative safety and hazard awareness training, and loss-based training. 
• Additionally, the Skills Trainer will offer guidance and measurement frameworks for recruiting technical skills across the sourcing units. The Skills Trainer is also responsible for the proper maintenance and safe running of on-site training facilities and materials.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

Technical Training & Capability Building

• Deliver engineering technical training across mechanical and electrical disciplines, using a coaching and mentoring approach
• Develop engaging training materials and maintain accurate training records
• Build and enhance on-site technical capability for Technical Operators, Machine Specialists, ICE Technicians, and Artisans

Training Strategy & Execution

• Execute the site training strategy and drive associated action plans to address technical capability and development needs
• Maintain and update the Technical Skills Matrix and assessment records
• Capture and track all training activities on the LMS platform
• Support the population of Workplace Skills Plan (WSP), Annual Training Report (ATR), and BBBEE training spend tracking

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure site compliance with training standards, including the development of training and assessment tools
• Maintain accurate training documentation and reporting processes

Safety, Quality & Environment

• Promote a strong understanding of workplace hazards and ensure adherence to all safety and environmental procedures
• Embed sustainability into training by supporting reduction of environmental impact (utilities, waste, chemicals)
• Ensure technical capability across the site supports and protects quality standards

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a technical leader, promoting high-performing teams and linking technical skills with leadership behaviours (communication, integrity, accountability)
• Lead engineering capability improvement through strong technical expertise and problem-solving
• Continuous Improvement
• Conduct regular technical skills assessments and audits
• Identify capability gaps and implement targeted development and coaching interventions
• Drive capability improvements aligned to site priorities and support loss elimination initiatives

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 years’ experience as an Artisan, with at least 3 years in Factory Training within a technical, FMCG, or manufacturing environment
• N6 in Mechanical and or Electrical Engineering
• Trade Tested Artisan
• Accredited or Working towards Assessor, Facilitator and Material design and development is preferred
• Strong coaching and communication skills supporting some instructional experience in a previous role.  Must display an ability to engage and enthuse.
• WCM/TPM/ Lean Manufacturing/ Continuous Improvement mind set.
• Solid experience identifying training gaps and implementing training programs
• Proficient with leading training agendas and leading Learnerships/ SETA programs
• Proven track record on the impact of focused Programme and Development – use of training methodologies i.e. how this has improved productivity
• Must have in depth knowledge of Training Analysis
• Strong understanding of Unions (Unionised environment) 
• Proven expertise in mechanical systems (mechanisms, motion, condition-based monitoring, materials, and tribology)
• Strong knowledge of process engineering equipment (pumps, valves, pipework, vessels, agitators)
• Electrical expertise in control circuits, calibration, and hazardous area equipment
• Hands-on experience with installation and replacement of major electrical components (motors, switch/control gear)

SKILLS

• Strategic Thinking & Planning: Ability to plan proactively and develop forward-looking strategies
• Business Performance Optimization: Drive efficiency and continuous improvement to enhance overall business performance
• Analytical Problem Solving: Analyze complex issues and implement effective, data-driven solutions
• Customer Focus: Deliver high-quality service that meets internal and external customer needs
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships across key stakeholders
• Integrity & Ethics: Uphold high standards of professionalism, compliance, and business ethics