Area Leader, Plant

The J.M. Smucker Co.; Orrville (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Co. in Orrville, OH is seeking an Area Leader, Logistics to direct the logistics team and manufacturing support.

You will lead people, manage processes, and drive safety, quality, reliability, and cost improvements to ensure consistent delivery of trusted products. This on-site role requires developing teams across shifts, owning department performance, and partnering to identify and eliminate losses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 2 years of related experience required.
• Previous experience in a manufacturing, logistics, or transportation environment required.
• Previous people management experience required.
• Strong computer aptitude, including experience with Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop people across multiple shifts to meet performance expectations.
• Own department performance against Ops Ex targets and maintain scorecards.
• Develop understanding of plant product flow and key inputs/outputs.
• Identify, prioritize, and eliminate losses within the operation.
• Attend daily DDS meetings and ensure follow-up actions are completed.
• Lead Ops Ex initiatives and drive continuous improvement across the department.

Skills

People management

Leadership

Problem solving

Operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

Your Opportunity as the Area Leader, Logistics

Be part of the team behind some of America's most iconic jams and jellies. As an Area Leader, Logistics, you’ll play an important role in keeping our Orrville manufacturing operation moving, leading the people and processes that help deliver trusted J.M. Smucker products to consumers. You’ll develop teams, improve performance, and drive excellence across safety, quality, reliability, and cost while helping support brands that have been part of family tables for generations.

Location: Orrville, OH

Work Arrangements: 100% on-site

In This Role You Will

• Willingness to flex your schedule, work extended hours, and flow to the work as needed to support multiple shifts and business needs.

Lead & Develop People

• Develop the skills and capabilities of the technician workforce.
• Build leadership capability among Coordinators, Team Leaders, and Reliability Leaders.
• Coach operating teams to meet or exceed performance expectations.
• Manage staffing, Workday, training plans, employee relations, and conflict resolution.
• Provide leadership and visibility across multiple shifts, flexing your schedule as needed.
• Lead with the company’s Basic Beliefs as a foundation.

Drive Operational Performance

• Own department performance against Operations Excellence (Ops Ex) targets.
• Develop and maintain the department scorecard and share performance results with the team each month.
• Develop a strong understanding of overall plant product flow, including key inputs and outputs.
• Identify, prioritize, and eliminate losses within the operation.
• Attend daily DDS meetings, report on department performance, and ensure follow‑up actions are completed.

Champion Continuous Improvement

• Lead Operations Excellence initiatives for the team.
• Support and lead Operations Excellence (Ops Ex) efforts within the department.
• Drive continuous improvement through effective troubleshooting, problem‑solving, and performance management.
• Partner across the operation to identify opportunities that improve the safety, reliability, quality, and efficiency of the department.

Minimum Requirements

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 2 years of related experience required.
• Previous experience in a manufacturing, logistics, or transportation environment required.
• Previous people management experience required.
• Strong computer aptitude, including experience with Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint.

Additional Experience That Would Make You Successful

• Food manufacturing experience preferred.
• Previous leadership or management experience in a union environment preferred.
• Warehouse Management System (WMS) experience is a plus.
• OSHA Powered Industrial Vehicle (PIV) management experience is a plus.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage people, projects, and data.
• Demonstrated ability to coach teams to meet or exceed expectations.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.