Career Foundation Program (CFP) - Business

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Smithfield (VA); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Package Available

Be Well programs

Training and professional development

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. offers a Career Foundation Program Associate – Business that combines hands-on business management and supply planning. The 18–24 month rotations expose recent graduates to multiple company operations while senior leaders and mentors guide development.

You’ll help manage profitability, lead forecasting with demand and supply teams, and collaborate with marketing, R&D, and operations to meet customer demand and drive growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Agribusiness or related field; or current student with anticipated graduation before start date.
• High level of professionalism and strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication; proficient in Word, PowerPoint, Excel.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing profitability of a specific category (e.g., bacon, ham, pork).
• Execute the annual business plan and manage P&L for an assigned product group/brand.
• Lead forecasting with demand and supply planning teams; collaborate with marketing and R&D on new products.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Agribusiness

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING

As a Career Foundation Program Associate – Business, you will gain hands-on experience in both business management and supply planning. This is your chance to work with diverse teams, drive sales growth, and ensure our products meet customer demand. Your contributions will directly impact the success of our company, and you'll love the dynamic, collaborative environment we offer.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Business Management:

• Assist in managing the profitability of a specific category, such as bacon, ham, or fresh pork
• Execute the annual business plan, including managing the profit/loss for an assigned product group/brand
• Act as a liaison between operations, sales, and marketing functions
• Lead forecasting efforts with demand and supply planning teams
• Develop and maintain documentation for retail pricing and promotion for product groups
• Manage trade spending targets and day-to-day P&L and volume plans
• Participate in field trade planning meetings and provide brand training to the sales team
• Collaborate with Marketing and R&D on new products and cost savings initiatives
• Monitor the marketplace for pricing opportunities

Supply Planning:

• Create finished goods plans to support customer orders, forecasted demand, and inventory requirements
• Establish critical inventory parameters, such as Target & Safety Stock settings
• Collaborate with manufacturing operations and plant schedulers to manage stock levels
• Interact with demand management, manufacturing, quality, warehousing, and transportation teams
• Measure, analyze, and report key process metrics and monitor adherence to KPIs
• Identify and address material shortages, develop action items, and follow up on issues
• Manage long-term capacity status, weekly category KPI updates, product shortage reporting, and ad-hoc daily information flow

PROGRAM DETAILS

This position is part of Smithfield’s Career Foundation Program (CFP), a training program designed to provide recent college graduates with an opportunity to explore career options through function-specific rotations. The program is divided into tracks, each oriented towards a different part of the Company’s operations. It provides CFP Associates with an opportunity to learn about an aspect of the Company’s business while seeking a new position to launch a career with Smithfield. Company senior leaders, along with an assigned manager, mentor, and program manager, will provide guidance, training, and partnership throughout the CFP Associate’s assigned rotations. The program is 18 to 24 months, depending on the rotational track the Associate enters. CFP Associates are expected to contribute to the goals of each department to which they are assigned. They will assist in problem-solving, assume leadership roles for certain projects, help the department achieve both short and long-term objectives, and deliver high-level results that exceed expectations. The Career Foundation Program is designed for high-potential college/university graduates who can quickly adapt to new environments, show initiative, and take on increasingly complex project responsibilities. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business, Agribusiness or related field; or currently enrolled college student with an anticipated graduation prior to the start date
• High level of professionalism
• Strong leadership and decision‑making skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Proficient in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• High standards of accuracy
• Travel up to 10% of the time, with periodic overnight travel required
• Currently authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to work well with others in a fast paced, dynamic environment

OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT

• Work experience in a team-based environment within manufacturing or supply chain.
• Experience with SAP and its related supply chain applications.
• Strong self‑motivation and organization schools
• Strong interpersonal and technical skills required; presentation skills preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Capable of sitting for extended periods of time. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Frequently required to sit; stand; walk; reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. Able to travel as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions The expected pay range for this position is $21.63 - $31.25 per hour. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package.

Benefits

• Relocation Package Available Yes
• Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers.
• Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost.
• These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more.
• Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential.
• Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs.
• Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent.
• We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less ...

Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.