Director of Workforce Development and Talent Strategy in Bath, Maine at Bath Iron Works

The Director of Workforce & Talent Strategy is responsible for designing, leading, and executing enterprise-wide strategies that strengthen BIW’s workforce capability, ensure a sustainable skilled trades pipeline, and enhance the long-term development of all employees. This role integrates workforce development, learning and development, and talent acquisition strategy to meet the demands of a complex, large-scale shipbuilding environment. The Director partners closely with operations, engineering, and senior leadership to ensure the organization attracts, develops, and retains the talent needed to deliver on current and future Navy programs.

Key Responsibilities

Workforce Development & Skilled Trades Strategy

• Lead the strategy for building and sustaining a high-performing skilled trades workforce across all craft disciplines.
• Oversee apprenticeship programs, trade schools, pre-hire training, and partnerships with community colleges, technical institutions, and workforce agencies.
• Develop structured career pathways for welders, pipefitters, electricians, shipfitters, and other critical trades.
• Align training content with production needs, quality standards, safety requirements, and industry certifications.
• Collaborate with Operations and Production leadership to forecast long-term workforce needs and capacity.
• Implement workforce readiness pipelines to support major hiring surges associated with shipbuilding milestones.

Learning & Development (Enterprise)

• Build and execute a comprehensive L&D strategy covering onboarding, compliance, technical training, leadership development, and career progression.
• Modernize learning delivery through blended learning, hands-on training, simulation, and digital learning platforms.
• Establish metrics to evaluate training effectiveness and impact on productivity, quality, and retention.
• Lead initiatives that support leadership capability at all levels, including new leader development and future leader programs.
• Foster a continuous learning culture aligned to BIW’s Business Operating System and Safely Executing High Quality Work.

Talent Acquisition Strategy

• Lead the strategy for enterprise talent acquisition, ensuring the organization attracts and selects the best talent across skilled trades, engineering, and professional roles.
• Develop sourcing pipelines for critical trades, STEM talent, and hard-to-fill positions.
• Strengthen employer branding and workforce marketing to position the company as an employer of choice in the shipbuilding.
• Drive efficiency, equity, and consistency in hiring processes and candidate experience.
• Partner with workforce development leaders to align pre-hire and post-hire training programs.
• Advise senior leadership on workforce trends, labor market conditions, and long-range talent risks.

Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop teams in workforce development, L&D, and TA strategy.
• Manage budgets, vendor relationships, and technology platforms supporting talent and training.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships across HR, Operations, Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Finance.
• Champion a culture of safety, learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, Industrial Technology, or related field required, Master’s preferred.

• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in workforce development, L&D, talent acquisition strategy, or talent management.
• Experience in heavy manufacturing, shipbuilding, defense contracting, aerospace, or other complex industrial environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success building skilled trades pipelines and technical training programs.
• Deep understanding of adult learning principles, technical training, and workforce capability-building.
• Proven ability to partner with senior operational leaders and support large-scale workforce planning.
• Strong communication, analytical, and project management skills; ability to drive change in a complex environment.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Workforce Planning
• Operational & Business Acumen
• Talent Development & Succession Planning
• Leadership & Influence
• Skilled Trades Development Expertise
• Change Management
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Collaboration & Relationship-Building