2027 Management Trainee Program

Butterball; Garner (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing and relocation assistance

Competitive compensation and benefits

Job summary

Butterball in Garner, NC, offers a 12-month Management Trainee Program that rotates through live operations, production, and distribution to expose graduates to diverse business functions and leadership styles.

You will gain leadership development, mentorship, and practical experience across departments with housing and relocation support, culminating in a full-time leadership role upon program completion.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership, internship, co-op, campus involvement, work experience, or other developmental experiences.
• Interest in leadership and developing others.
• Adaptable and comfortable navigating new environments, challenges, and learning opportunities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Curious, inquisitive, and eager to learn.
• Willingness to work in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Rotate through multiple departments and business functions to gain exposure to Butterball's operations and how teams work together to achieve business goals.
• Build relationships with leaders and team members across the company through rotational experiences, mentorship, and collaboration.
• Learn how leaders across the organization drive results through communication, employee development, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• Participate in leadership development sessions focused on topics such as communication, presentation skills, situational leadership, business systems, and professional growth.
• Learn and apply company standards related to safety, animal welfare, food quality, environmental compliance, and team member engagement.
• Complete meaningful assignments and experiences that strengthen leadership, business, and decision-making skills.
• Maintain a learning journal to document experiences, reflections, and leadership development throughout the program.
• Develop the foundational skills needed to lead teams in a manufacturing environment.

Skills

Leadership potential

Adaptability

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Curiosity

Manufacturing environment

Previous leadership/ internship/ co-op

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

At Butterball, we exist to help people pass love on. As the most recognized name in turkey, the brand represents more than 60 years of cherished memories, providing quality, great tasting products that make meals something to celebrate every day. We proudly believe that life at Butterball means having a team who supports you, having the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and making an impact on the health of others daily.

Our 12-month rotational Management Trainee Program provides recent graduates with a unique opportunity to explore every area of our business, from live operations to production, distribution, and everywhere in between. Along the way, trainees gain exposure to diverse career paths, meaningful learning experiences, and a variety of leadership approaches that help them develop their own leadership style and prepare for a successful career with Butterball.

About the Program

Throughout the 12-month program, trainees rotate through key business areas and departments to gain exposure to the people, processes, and strategies that drive our organization. These experiences provide insight into a variety of career paths while helping participants understand what effective leadership looks like across different functions, teams, and environments.

Designed to develop the next generation of manufacturing and operations leaders, the program combines structured leadership development, mentorship, networking opportunities, and rotational assignments designed to build business acumen, strengthen communication and decision‑making skills, and prepare participants to lead people and teams with confidence. Throughout the program, trainees are encouraged to reflect on the leadership styles they observe and develop their own leadership approach in alignment with Butterball's values and leadership competencies.

The primary rotation locations are:

• Mount Olive, NC (Processing Facility)
• Garner, NC (Corporate Office)

In addition to the primary rotations, trainees will have opportunities to visit other Butterball operation facilities located in North Carolina, Arkansas, and Missouri.

What You’ll Learn

Throughout the program, you will:

• Rotate through multiple departments and business functions to gain a broad understanding of Butterball's operations and how teams work together to achieve business goals.
• Build relationships with leaders and team members across the company through rotational experiences, mentorship, and collaboration.
• Learn how leaders across the organization drive results through communication, employee development, problem‑solving, and teamwork.
• Participate in leadership development sessions focused on topics such as communication, presentation skills, situational leadership, business systems, and professional growth.
• Learn and apply company standards related to safety, animal welfare, food quality, environmental compliance, and team member engagement.
• Complete meaningful assignments and experiences that strengthen leadership, business, and decision‑making skills.
• Maintain a learning journal to document experiences, reflections, and leadership development throughout the program.
• Develop the foundational skills needed to lead teams in a manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Get

• Exposure to a variety of business functions, departments, and career paths across Butterball.
• Leadership development, coaching, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
• Insight into different leadership styles, approaches, and career journeys.
• Professional and personal development experiences designed to accelerate career growth.
• Housing and relocation assistance.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• A full‑time production leadership opportunity upon successful completion of the program.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Poultry Science, Animal Science, Food Science, Agriculture, Business, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, or a related field (expected graduation between December 2026 and May 2027.
• Interest in leadership and developing others.
• Adaptable and comfortable navigating new environments, challenges, and learning opportunities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Curious, inquisitive, and eager to learn.
• Willingness to work in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated leadership, internship, co‑op, campus involvement, work experience, or other developmental experiences.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience in agriculture, poultry, food manufacturing, operations, or a related industry.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate equipment, computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally climb and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

• Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including a climate‑controlled office environment(s) and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions, such as cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions.

• Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
• This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
• For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.