Area Manager

Nebraska Ag Connection; Grand Island (NE); On-site; USD 82,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

McCain is seeking an Area Manager to lead safety, quality, production and reliability for a production line, guiding a team through daily direction setting and long-range planning. You will mentor supervisors, optimize costs, and ensure compliance with food safety standards across all shifts.

The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, training, and continuous improvement to deliver breakthrough results and develop the operating teams' technical capability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Business Administration or related field or eight years of equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience in a production environment.
• Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide safety and servant-based leadership to achieve production targets.
• Lead and coach shift production supervisors and teams across multiple lines.
• Drive daily direction setting and manage 90-day and periodic plans.
• Analyze KPIs such as safety, efficiency, waste, and costs for continuous improvement.
• Ensure training and development of teams; manage staffing and scheduling needs.
• Maintain sanitation and compliance with federal/state food plant standards.

Skills

Administrative skills

Verbal and written communication

Leadership

Coaching

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor of Science in Operations or Business Administration

Job description

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy.

The Area Manager provides safety and servant-based leadership to achieve breakthrough production results on a specific production line/ system. Accountable for driving out top losses on a 24-hour, multiple shift cycle through a rigorous Daily Direction Setting system, specifically through ownership of Safety, Quality, Production, and Reliability targets. Our Area Manager is also accountable for daily, weekly, monthly, and 90-day plans. Ensures the development of the operating teams' technical capability. Providing daily direction and coaching to the Process Lead and Maintenance Lead to deliver breakthrough results, and is ultimately accountable for the results of the line/system.

Accountabilities:

• Assure that employees are adequately trained to accomplish the facility’s goals and that employees are recognized and held accountable for their contribution to these goals. Review and interpret management concerns and periodic reports. Responsible for ensuring the productive and efficient operation of all daily shift activities while maintaining departmental expenses within budget.


• Lead the shift production supervisors and team members in the manufacturing of multiple lines of food production across all shifts.


• Manage and lead Daily Direction Setting meetings and resulting actions to ensure completion.


• Mentor and coach supervisors and team members to improve performance.


• Support and facilitate the implementation of plant work teams. Provide direct leadership to all Production department Supervisors and Leads to ensure rapid development and continued support of the Team Process, including the ability to fill roles in short-term absences.


• Must be able to adjust schedule and shift priorities as necessary to be effective and consistent with current operational requirements.


• Organize production activities in a timely and cost-effective fashion to ensure that internal and external customer needs are met.


• Track and analyze key performance indicators of the production team’s performance, including safety, efficiency, waste, downtime, labor costs, and communicate these indicators to the team for further action.


• Improve the cost per pound of all products through volume improvements, waste minimization, labor utilization, and ingredient/supply usage optimization while assuring optimal product quality.


• Prioritize, initiate, and coordinate problem-solving efforts to improve the effectiveness of the Processing and Packaging departments.


• Utilize interpersonal and developmental skills to continually improve the morale and capability of production employees.


• Contribute to the professional growth and development of subordinates for advancement consideration. Assist in the development of career enhancement plans and activities to improve career opportunities for subordinates.


• Responsible for the consistent administration of company policies to all assigned employees. Proactively work with the operations management team and Human Resources to effectively resolve employee relations issues.


• Responsible for plant sanitation, ensuring a clean, organized, well-maintained work environment in accordance with federal, state, and independent standards for food plant operations (internal and external).


• Contribute to ensuring a positive, safe, efficient work environment for each employee group by reinforcing learned job skills, cross-training, on-the-job safety, and goal-setting practices.


• Develop the necessary skills to effectively use the current and future management information and reporting systems


• Maintain ongoing professional growth through membership in a professional organization, seminar attendance, and attending advanced schooling.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Operations, Business Administration or related field, or eight (8) years equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Preferred Over 5 years supervisory responsibility, preferably in a food processing operations environment.

Skills:

• Administrative: Exceptional verbal/written skills, customer service skills, strong organizational skills, Ability to function in a highly paced environment.


• Physical Demands: Handling, repetitive motions, talking, hearing, walking, lifting, occasional bending, reaching, and climbing.


• Communication: Excellent oral and written communication skills, Ability to interact with all levels of the organization, Strong ability to maintain confidentiality.


• Reasoning Ability: Ability to analyze data and draw logical conclusions with minimal guidance using mathematical calculations.

About McCain

At McCain, we’re feeding the world: from French fries to cakes, we contribute to the important role food plays in people's lives. That’s why we’re dedicated to ensuring our core values—Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality—shine through every day. As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in more than 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that we can work together, along with our business and community partners, to bring sustainable growth and positive change today, tomorrow, and for generations to come. Join us and see how you can MAKE IT at McCain!

Leadership Principles.

We are customer obsessed. Customers are our starting point. By understanding their needs and leveraging data and consumer insights, we drive mutual success.

We think big and plan ahead. Through ambition, curiosity, and smart risks, we can accomplish goals, refine processes, and innovate to scale success.

We bring out the best in our people. We create safe spaces for our people so that trust and empowerment come naturally. Inclusion is about listening first, showing humility, and working together.

We act like owners. Together, we clear obstacles and do the work that makes us all successful and proud to be part of McCain.

The McCain experience

We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually—your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why we’re better together.

Compensation Package: $81,600.00 - $108,900.00 . USD annually + Bonus eligibility

The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education and training, and other organizational needs. This posting is for an existing vacancy.