Operations Lead - Dry Starch

Ingredion Incorporated; Cardinal; On-site; CAD 89,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Ingredion is seeking an Operations Lead, Dry Starch at our Cardinal facility to lead production operations, champion safety and continuous improvement, and develop high-performing teams.

You will oversee the Dry Starch department and Blending & Loading operations, collaborate with Maintenance and site leadership to achieve efficiency, quality, and cost goals, and ensure compliance with food safety standards.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in Engineering or technical discipline with relevant experience.
• Knowledge of corn refining operations and manufacturing processes preferred.
• Strong decision-making, planning and time management skills.
• Ability to lead in a dynamic manufacturing environment and collaborate across functions.
• Experience coaching, training and developing employees to improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety, health, environmental and employment standards while complying with policies and regulations.
• Provide leadership to Blending & Loading operators, promote engagement and teamwork.
• Partner with operators to meet production targets and identify improvements.
• Optimize production processes while maintaining quality and food-safety requirements.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to ensure reliability and support objectives.
• Monitor operations and KPIs, taking corrective actions to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Analyze data to troubleshoot issues and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Safety

Continuous Improvement

Cross-functional

Decision making

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

About Ingredion

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you’re just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create. Location: Cardinal Facility Workplace Type: Onsite

Position Overview

Ingredion is seeking a driven and people-focused Operations Lead, Dry Starch to lead production operations, champion continuous improvement, and develop high‑performing teams. In this role, you will help ensure safe, efficient, and reliable manufacturing processes while delivering quality products that support our customers and business goals. As an Operations Lead, Dry Starch, you will provide leadership and operational oversight for the Dry Starch department, driving safety, employee engagement, production performance, process optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance with quality and food safety standards. This role oversees the Blending & Loading operations team and collaborates closely with Maintenance, Production, and site leadership to achieve operational excellence.

What You Will Do

• Lead and promote safety, health, environmental, and employment standards while ensuring compliance with corporate policies and regulatory requirements.
• Provide leadership and direction to Blending & Loading operators, fostering employee engagement, accountability, and teamwork.
• Partner with operators and cross‑functional teams to achieve production targets and identify improvement opportunities.
• Optimize production processes while maintaining product quality specifications and food safety requirements.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to ensure reliability and maintenance activities support operational objectives.
• Monitor process conditions and operational performance, taking corrective actions as needed to maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Analyze operational data and key performance indicators to troubleshoot issues, improve efficiencies, and meet production and cost goals.

What You Will Bring

Post‑secondary education in Engineering, a technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. Knowledge of corn refining operations and manufacturing processes preferred.

Strong decision‑making, planning, and time management skills. Ability to effectively lead in a dynamic manufacturing environment while collaborating across multiple functions and organizational levels. Experience coaching, training, and developing employees to improve performance and team effectiveness.

Who You Are

• A collaborative leader who motivates others and enables teams to achieve ambitious goals.
• A problem solver who embraces innovative solutions and challenges traditional approaches.
• An inclusive team player who values diverse perspectives and builds strong relationships across the organization.
• An accountable professional who acts with urgency, takes ownership, and drives results.
• A change champion who adapts quickly and supports others through ambiguity and continuous improvement.

Why Join Ingredion?

Discover why Ingredion is the ideal place to advance your career with our exceptional rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive. Create the future with us and enjoy:

• Total Rewards Package – Competitive salary and performance‑based pay recognizing your contributions to our success.
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support – Health, long‑term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well‑being.
• Career Growth – Learning, training, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement.
• Employee Recognition Program – A culture of real‑time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally.
• Employee Discount Program – Provides exclusive discounts on everyday products, services, and travel.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant’s accommodation needs.

Ingredion uses AI‑enabled tools to support parts of the recruitment process, including resume screening and interview scheduling. These tools help match candidate skills to job requirements and streamline communication. All AI‑assisted decisions are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team to ensure fairness and compliance with applicable laws. By applying, you acknowledge that AI may be used to support your application journey.

Relocation Available: No

Pay Range: $88,800.00-$118,400.00 Annual. This pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data and applicable bargaining agreement (if any).

Incentive Compensation: As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role‑specific commission/bonus.

Benefits: Full‑time roles are eligible for our competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, and an employer‑funded health spending account as well as multiple retirement savings products.

Ingredion is a leading global, plant‑based ingredients solutions company. We make sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterials that are used by customers in everyday products from foods and beverages to paper and pharmaceuticals. At Ingredion, we embrace possibilities and inspire each other to think big. Together, we are reimagining how we can make life better through our differentiated ingredients and innovative solutions. We share an inspiring purpose — to make life better, for our colleagues, our customers, our communities, and the world. We belong to a culture of bold innovators, of people who believe that their skills, creativity, and passion can deliver solutions that can enhance people’s lives. We create what’s next, transforming our imagination into innovation. We have a welcoming and collaborative environment to build and grow a career in a multinational company. Here, everyone can be their authentic selves and be part of a community of talented and caring people, interacting with professionals around the world, made up of varied backgrounds, cultures and industries. We are encouraged to think differently and innovate through collaboration and experimentation. We are constantly imagining new ways to bring value to our customers, through new ingredients, solutions, and ways of working.

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