DFA Rotational Program - Operations, Engineering, Quality (2027 Program)

Dairy Farmers of America; Kansas City (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dairy Farmers of America is seeking a Rotational Operations Analyst as part of the Experience program. You will rotate through manufacturing, engineering, quality and process technology to build broad expertise over about two years starting in 2027.

Locations vary by business need and may include multiple states; you will gain hands-on experience across plant shifts, participate in CI projects, and develop data analytics capabilities using Power BI, Salesforce, and other systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Manufacturing, engineering, or related field required.
• Internship experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Visit a DFA farm to gain basic dairy farming knowledge and experience.
• Meet with cross-functional experts to understand the business and the Cooperative.
• Work on plant shifts to learn the manufacturing process, opportunities, and challenges.
• Complete a manufacturing project using educational experience.
• Participate in review of production costs, rework meetings, and analytics.
• Assist in ideation, packaging design, and problem-solving meetings.
• Utilize systems (Power BI, Salesforce, PCM, Genesis, SharePoint) to analyze data and produce metrics.
• Shadow Plant Supervisor, Plant Manager, and Director of Operations.
• Run dryer processes and learn spray drying, blending, and related methods.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical thinking

Communication

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science/Engineering

Internship experience

Tools

Power BI

Salesforce

Excel

PCM

Job description

This position is part of the Experience program, a rotational program for graduates aspiring to a career in manufacturing. In this role, the Rotational Operations Analyst will rotate through various functions such as manufacturing, engineering, quality and process technology over approximately a two-year timeframe beginning in 2027. This program is designed to offer experience, education and exposure to prepare an individual for a future role in manufacturing.

Location: This program offers rotations across various manufacturing plant locations. Potential locations may include Missouri, Minnesota, New Mexico, Kansas, California, Colorado, or Pennsylvania. These are examples only and are not guaranteed. Rotation locations will be determined based on business needs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Visit a DFA farm to gain basic dairy farming knowledge and experience
• Meet with cross-functional experts to further understand the business and the Cooperative
• Work on various plant shifts to gain insight into the manufacturing process, opportunities, and challenges
• Complete a manufacturing project using educational experience
• Participate in review of production costs, rework meeting, and/or analytics
• Participate in on ideation, package design, problem-solving, etc., meetings
• Utilize systems throughout rotation, including Power BI, Salesforce, PCM, genesis, trace gains, SharePoint, etc., to analyze data and produce metrics. Produce reports, provide analytics, and build capability around data analysis and critical thinking
• Participate in a customer audit in plant (understanding of quality, regulatory etc.)
• Prepare and send samples for customers. Understand how to maintain sample and raw material inventory
• Participate in a customer call, such as a prospecting call or complaint resolution
• Complete a continuous improvement (CI) project involving influence
• Run dryer; understand science and methodology to spray drying, blending, etc.
• Work on a new product project, commercialization and scale up Prepare and present report on project results and next steps
• Assist with new product scale-ups at manufacturing facilities and/or scale up at customer facility where product is used
• Attend industry workshop training, such as cheese-making, spray drying, dry blending etc.
• Complete OSHA, environmental, ECO lab, and IDFA training courses
• Shadow Plant Supervisor, Plant Manager, and Director of Operations
• Act in a supervisory role (once leadership training is complete)
  • Review disciplinary issues with operations leader
  • Deliver constructive feedback
  • Participate in the interview and selection process
  • Onboard new hires, including 30/60/90 day check ins
  • Coordinate staffing
• Research new ingredient process technologies
• Shadow the controls team and assist in conducting costing and data analysis
• Troubleshoot quality issues in collaboration with food safety & quality team
• Assist in the capital management process
• Understand and utilize engineering standards
• Work with manufacturing, maintenance and engineering leaders to improve plant reliability
• Sit in on sales and operations planning (S&OP) and procurement meetings to understand how to schedule product, get bids, and interact with vendors
• Rotations may be available at cheese, taste & flavor and dairy powders locations around the country
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Manufacturing, engineering, or related field required
• Internship experience preferred
• Certification and/or license - N/A

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership abilities
• Self-starting and disciplined
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Creative outlook with strong communication skills
• Ability to be adaptable and flexible
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products
• Ability to communicate with other departments cross-functionally
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

Travel: 15% - 25% (1 - 2 times per quarter)

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans