Associate Manager, Processing Operations

Unilever; Independence (MO); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings

Life insurance

Disability benefits

Parental leave

Paid vacation

Job summary

Unilever is seeking an Associate Manager, Processing Operations to drive manufacturing performance in a hybrid role, overseeing the processing department and leading continuous improvement initiatives. You will manage day-to-day activities, emphasize safety, quality, and cost control, and collaborate across Maintenance, Quality, Planning, and Logistics to enhance overall performance.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering / Business / Management (preferred).
• 3+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience building relationships across all levels with safety, quality and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end processing performance for Safety, Quality, Service and Cost.
• Drive loss elimination using data, RCA and standards to close gaps.
• Embed daily management systems (LSW, tier meetings, escalation).
• Lead SHE & Quality compliance with leadership visibility and accountability.
• Partner cross-functionally to remove constraints and enable performance.
• Identify future capability needs and build training pipelines for the department.

Skills

Safety culture

Quality focus

Leadership

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

Inventory management system

Job description

The Associate Manager, Processing Operations is responsible for driving current and future manufacturing performance in the areas of Safety, Productivity, Cost, Quality, Delivery and People with a Continuous Improvement framework. This is a hybrid role with strategic and executional management of the site's processing department. This individual has full responsibility for managing their department's day-to-day manufacturing activities as well as working individually and on teams to identify areas of opportunity to cause beneficial changes.

You'll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet.

Because here, we don't just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver with Excellence

• Own end-to-end processing performance across Safety, Quality, Service, and Cost for the department.
• Drive loss elimination strategy, not just execution—leveraging data, RCA, and standards to close gaps sustainably.
• Ensure disciplined daily management systems (LSW, tier meetings, escalation) are embedded and effective.
• Set the standard for SHE & Quality compliance, ensuring zero tolerance through leadership visibility and accountability.
• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple workstreams, focusing resources on the highest-impact outcomes.

Care Deeply

• Build and sustain a high-performing, safety-first culture where standards are clear and consistently applied.
• Translate site strategy into clear direction, expectations, and priorities for frontline leaders and teams.
• Develop a strong leadership bench by coaching supervisors and holding them accountable for engagement and performance.
• Foster a culture of inclusion, respect, and ownership, strengthening employee relations and union partnership.

Stay 3 Steps Ahead

• Anticipate risks and proactively adjust plans to protect people, service, and production continuity.
• Lead continuous improvement and culture transformation across the processing organization.
• Partner cross-functionally (Maintenance, Quality, Planning, Logistics) to remove constraints and enable performance now and in the future.
• Identify future capability needs and build robust training and development pipelines for the department.
• Paradox Navigator: Balances competing priorities while maintaining focus on what drives the business forward.

Focus On What Counts

• Drive clarity on the critical few priorities that unlock department performance (losses, reliability, capability).
• Ensure execution against clear KPIs and targets, with strong follow-through and accountability.
• Embed Leader Standard Work and visual management to maintain focus and sustain results.
• Balance short-term delivery with long-term capability and system improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree. Technical degree in Engineering/ Business/ Management (preferred)
• 3+ years of Progressive Manufacturing Leadership experience.
• You have experience in establishing and maintaining relationships on all levels of the business, while creating a culture of safety, quality and operational excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Food Manufacturing with processing operations
• SAP and inventory management system experience

Pay

The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus

This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI)

This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits

Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever Is An Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons With Disabilities.

For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.