RDC Training Specialist

Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture - Where Innovation Meets Comfort

Who We Are:

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we're more than a business - we're a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

If you're ready to grow, you've come to the right place. With a true "Growth Mindset," Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

If you are a current Ashley employee: Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board.

Summary: The Retail Distribution Center Training Specialist is responsible for developing, delivering, and maintaining training programs that ensure distribution center employees are skilled, safe, and productive. This role partners closely with operations leadership to identify training needs, create instructional materials, facilitate hands-on and classroom training, and track training effectiveness to support performance, quality, and safety goals.

Hourly Pay: DOE

Shift; 1st

Responsibilities:

Training Program Development & Delivery

• Develop, update, and maintain training materials (SOPs, job aids, e-learning, presentations) for distribution center roles (receiving, picking, packing, shipping, returns, inventory control, equipment operation, etc.).
• Facilitate new hire onboarding and orientation, ensuring employees understand company policies, safety expectations, and job requirements.
• Conduct classroom and on-the-floor training sessions for:
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Warehouse management systems (WMS) and RF scanners
• Material handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, reach trucks, etc.) as applicable
• Provide cross-training to support operational flexibility and coverage across functions.
• Tailor training content to different learning styles and languages as needed.

Operations & Performance Alignment

• Partner with operations managers and supervisors to identify training gaps and priorities based on performance metrics, error trends, and operational changes.
• Support implementation of new processes, technologies, and equipment by designing and delivering appropriate training.
• Reinforce productivity, accuracy, and quality standards through ongoing training and coaching.
• Participate in daily/weekly operations meetings to stay aligned with business needs and upcoming changes impacting training.

Safety & Compliance

• Support and deliver training related to:
• Safety standards and OSHA requirements
• PPE usage and ergonomic best practices
• Equipment operation and safety procedures
• Collaborate with Safety and HR to ensure compliance training is completed on time and documented accurately.
• Conduct periodic refresher training for safety, equipment certifications, and policy updates.
• Help drive a culture of safety and continuous improvement through training and communication.

Coaching & Employee Development

• Provide one-on-one coaching and follow-up support to employees needing additional guidance or skill reinforcement.
• Work with supervisors to develop improvement plans supported by targeted training.
• Identify employees with potential for advancement and recommend development paths (lead, trainer, or specialist roles).
• Serve as a resource for employees’ questions about processes, systems, and best practices.

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate training records for all distribution center employees, including:
• Course completion
• Equipment certifications
• Safety and compliance training
• Track training effectiveness using KPIs such as error rates, safety incidents, throughput, and quality metrics.
• Prepare training reports and updates for operations leadership, highlighting progress, risks, and recommendations.
• Ensure training documentation aligns with current SOPs, policies, and system configurations.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Training & Development, Business, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.

Experience

• 2–4 years of experience in a distribution center, warehouse, or logistics environment required.
• Experience in training, coaching, or lead/supervisory roles within operations strongly preferred.
• Experience with WMS, RF scanning devices, and material handling equipment in a retail or e-commerce distribution setting preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong presentation and facilitation skills; comfortable training groups and individuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex operational processes into clear, practical training content.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility with frontline employees and leaders.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and learning or HR systems (LMS, HRIS) preferred.
• Bilingual (e.g., English/Spanish) a plus, depending on workforce needs.

Work Environment:

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety-sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Benefits We Offer:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service

• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings

• Professional Development Opportunities

• Tuition Assistance

• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)

• 401(k) and Profit Sharing

• Life Insurance

Our Core Values:

Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.

Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.

Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.

Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.

Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.

Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.

Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.

Interested in learning more about Ashley Furniture's Community Engagement programs, Environmental Stewardship, or our Core Values, click the links below:

• Corporate Social Responsibility

• View Our Corporate Brochure

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates, only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Notice to Search Firms: We are not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms. We will not pay any placement, referral or other fees to any search firms unless we have agreed otherwise in a valid, written agreement for the specific position posted and signed by an authorized representative of Ashley Furniture Industries.

Please note this position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or at any time in the future.