Training Lead

Key Responsibilities 1. Training Strategy & Leadership Lead and execute the overall Learning & Development strategy across all abcoffee outlets pan India. Establish standardised training frameworks, learning calendars and development programmes aligned with business and operational requirements. Identify organisational training needs and skill gaps across regions and develop targeted interventions. Drive consistency in service quality, product knowledge and operational excellence across all outlets. Partner with Operations, HR and departmental leadership to align training initiatives with business objectives. 2. Barista Onboarding & Operational Training Lead structured induction and onboarding programmes for all newly hired baristas. Design and implement comprehensive On-the-Job Training (OJT) plans for existing and newly launched outlets. Ensure new employees are equipped with the required coffee knowledge, product understanding, machine handling and customer service skills. Monitor training effectiveness and individual learning progress across locations. Conduct regular outlet visits and hands-on training interventions to assess operational competency. 3. Training Content & SOP Development Create, design and continuously update training modules, presentations, workbooks and learning materials from scratch. Develop and implement standardised SOPs, training manuals and operational assessment frameworks. Establish structured learning modules covering coffee fundamentals, brewing techniques, equipment handling, service standards and outlet operations. Simplify complex concepts into engaging and easy-to-understand learning formats. Collaborate with department heads to obtain approvals and incorporate feedback into training content. 4. Assessments & Competency Management Design and implement structured assessments to evaluate baristas' theoretical knowledge and practical competencies. Establish assessment benchmarks, ensuring a minimum passing score of 80%. Track individual performance through assessments, practical evaluations and feedback mechanisms. Identify skill gaps and implement corrective training programmes. Maintain comprehensive training records and competency matrices across all regions. 5. Grooming & Learning Initiatives Lead and standardise grooming and behavioural training programmes across all outlets. Plan, organise and execute regular Sunday learning and development sessions across regions. Introduce engaging learning initiatives, practical demonstrations and interactive training activities. Ensure consistent adherence to brand presentation, hygiene and customer service standards. 6. Talent Development & IDP Management Develop and implement structured Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for baristas. Identify high-potential employees and create career development pathways. Track employee performance, skill progression and readiness for higher responsibilities. Build a structured internal promotion pipeline through competency-based evaluations. Work closely with Operations and HR to enable internal career progression and improve employee retention. 7. Training MIS & Stakeholder Management Establish and maintain comprehensive training MIS, attendance records, assessment reports and IDP trackers. Monitor training coverage, effectiveness, participation and regional performance. Prepare periodic training dashboards and share progress reports with senior management. Collect feedback from Area Managers, Regional Managers and department heads to continuously improve training effectiveness. Drive accountability for training completion and implementation across all regions. Key Result Areas (KRAs) Establishment and successful execution of a standardised Pan-India training framework. Completion of induction and onboarding programmes within defined timelines. Timely development and implementation of SOPs, OJT plans and training modules. Improvement in barista competency, operational knowledge and service standards. Consistent execution of grooming and Sunday learning initiatives across regions. Accurate maintenance of training MIS, IDPs and assessment documentation. Development of a sustainable internal promotion pipeline through structured learning initiatives. Improved employee performance, engagement and retention through effective L&D interventions. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) A. Personal Impact Induction Completion Rate: Ensure 100% of new hires complete induction within their first three working days. Assessment Success Score: Ensure at least 85% of trained baristas score 80% or above in post-training assessments. OJT Implementation: Ensure 100% rollout of structured OJT plans for all newly launched outlets. Training Effectiveness: Demonstrate measurable improvement in employee competency through pre- and post-training assessments. B. Organisational Wins Training Module Completion: Ensure all SOPs, IDPs and training decks are developed or updated at least five days before scheduled sessions. Promotion Pipeline Enablement: Identify and enable a minimum of two baristas per month for potential promotion through IDP tracking. Sunday Learning Engagement: Achieve at least 90% average participation in Sunday training sessions across regions. Pan-India Training Coverage: Ensure training coverage across 100% of newly launched outlets within the first 15 days of opening. C. Team Excellence Training Feedback Score: Maintain over 90% positive feedback from baristas and Area Managers. Training Documentation Accuracy: Maintain an error rate of less than 2% in training records and IDP documentation. Regional Training Compliance: Ensure consistent implementation of training standards and SOPs across all operational regions. Stakeholder Satisfaction: Maintain effective coordination and positive feedback from Operations and departmental leadership. Skills & Competencies Strong leadership, communication and presentation skills. Excellent training facilitation and instructional design capabilities. Ability to develop training strategies and execute them at scale. Strong understanding of frontline employee training and capability development. Ability to simplify complex concepts and engage diverse employee populations. Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination skills. Excellent analytical, organisational and documentation skills. Proficiency in MS Excel, Word and Canva. Willingness to travel extensively across India. Educational Qualifications & Experience Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Education, Hospitality, Training & Development or a related field. Prior experience in Learning & Development, Training or Operations Training within the QSR, retail, hospitality or café industry. Experience in independently leading training initiatives across multiple locations or regions. Proven experience in developing training frameworks, SOPs, assessment models, OJT programmes and IDPs. Certification in Training & Facilitation, Learning & Development or Instructional Design will be an added advantage. Experience managing multilingual and diverse frontline employee populations. Tools & Software MS Excel MS Word Canva PowerPoint / Presentation Tools Role Expectation: The Training Lead will own the end-to-end training function across abcoffee's Pan-India operations, ensuring scalable learning systems, consistent brand and operational standards, employee capability development and a strong internal talent pipeline.