Location Manager – Brookings, SD

Millborn Seeds, Inc.; Brookings, Northern (SD, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Millborn Seeds, Inc. seeks a Location Manager to lead the Brookings, SD headquarters, driving daily operations and exceptional service. You will align people and resources to workload, prioritize customer needs, and model the Millborn Way with accountability and ownership.

You will own the location's operating plan, remove obstacles, and continuously pursue improvements in workflow, communication, safety, and the customer experience. Relational leadership and a proactive mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a location or operations team is required.
• Strong leadership, communication, and accountability skills are essential.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities without compromising customer service.
• Capacity to influence others and drive cross-team collaboration.
• Problem-solving mindset with proactive issue resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with customer focus.
• Self-motivated owner mindset and accountability for results.
• Ability to anticipate workload and staffing needs ahead of time.
• Residence near the Brookings, SD area or close commute.
• Ability to remain effective under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Team-oriented approach with safety-conscious mindset.
• Willingness to support wherever needed and lead by example.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day performance of the location, ensuring safety, efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Coordinate people, equipment, space, and resources for smooth workflow.
• Maintain awareness of activities across the location and address issues proactively.
• Anticipate workload, customer needs, and staffing demands to prevent bottlenecks.
• Troubleshoot operational challenges and make timely decisions to move work forward.
• Ensure issues are addressed quickly and responsibilities are clear.
• Serve as primary on-site leader for facility readiness and site success.
• Identify recurring challenges and work with teams to address root causes.
• Look for opportunities to improve workflow, safety, and customer service.
• Encourage staff to propose practical solutions and implement improvements.

Skills

Leadership skills

Relationship building

Prioritization

Lead by example

Problem-solving

Communication

Ownership & accountability

Proactive / anticipate needs

Proximity to location

Thrive under pressure

Team player

Safety focus & forklift operation

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

As a leading seed supplier, Millborn offers a vertically integrated supply chain, a robust seed lineup, and an unmatched support team. Our expertise allows us to serve a wide range of customers and seed needs across North America.

Since 1987, Millborn has focused on being the single source for any seed need, no matter our customers’ goals. Our broad product offering, operational capabilities, and experienced team allow us to deliver the seed, service, and support our customers need.

Team Millborn is made up of people who do the right thing, no exception. We are authentic, genuine, and committed to excellence in everything we do.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Millborn is looking for a Location Manager who is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, performance, and success of our Brookings, SD headquarters.

This role serves as the primary leader on-site, ensuring customers receive exceptional service, employees are aligned around clear priorities, and daily operations run safely and efficiently. The Location Manager leads by example, removes obstacles for the team, and takes ownership of the success of the location.

The Location Manager owns the daily and near-term operating plan, aligning people and resources with workload, customer priorities, and business needs. This person is expected to understand what is happening across the location, anticipate what is coming, and proactively address challenges before they create bottlenecks or impact customers.

While long-term operational strategy is developed in partnership with company leadership, the Location Manager is accountable for executing those priorities at the location and continuously looking for ways to improve workflow, communication, efficiency, safety, and the customer experience.

The ideal candidate is highly relational, thrives in a fast-paced environment, thinks like an owner, and embodies “The Millborn Way” by doing whatever it takes to support customers, teammates, and the success of the location.

• Maintain a customer-first mindset and ensure customer needs remain a priority across all site activities.


• Create an exceptional customer experience by ensuring customers receive timely, accurate, and practical support and service.


• Ensure operational priorities and decisions consider their impact on the customer.


• Represent Millborn through authentic service, responsiveness, and professionalism.


• Lead and support employees involved in the day-to-day operations of the location.


• Own the daily and weekly operating plan, aligning people and resources with workload, customer priorities, and business needs.


• Ensure the right people are in the right roles based on workload, priorities, strengths, and customer needs.


• Establish clear expectations, provide coaching, and hold team members accountable to Millborn standards.


• Create an environment where employees understand priorities, communicate effectively, and work together across teams.


• Lead by example and willingly jump in to support any function when needed.

Operational Leadership

• Take ownership of the overall day-to-day performance of the location, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, accurately, and on time.


• Coordinate people, equipment, space, and other resources to maintain smooth workflow and operational performance.


• Maintain awareness of activities across the location and proactively address issues before they impact customers or employees.


• Anticipate upcoming workload, customer needs, staffing demands, and operational constraints to prevent bottlenecks and keep work moving.


• Troubleshoot operational challenges and make timely decisions to keep the location moving forward.


• Ensure issues are addressed quickly, ownership is clear, and responsibilities do not fall through the cracks.


• Serve as the primary on-site leader responsible for facility readiness, operational excellence, and overall site success.


• Identify recurring operational challenges and work with the appropriate teams to address root causes.


• Look for opportunities to improve workflow, communication, efficiency, safety, and customer service.


• Encourage team members to identify problems and bring forward practical solutions.


• Partner with company leadership and supporting teams to implement operational improvements.


• Take ownership of improvements within the location and ensure changes are carried through to execution.

Special Requirements

• Highly values people and relationships.


• Strong leadership skills with the ability to set expectations, coach others, and hold people accountable.


• Ability to manage multiple priorities without losing sight of the customer or overall location needs.


• Ability to lead by example and influence others.


• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.


• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.


• Highly self‑motivated with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.


• Ability to anticipate needs and proactively address challenges.


• Reside in close proximity to the location.


• Thrive under pressure in a fast‑paced environment.


• Team player who is willing to support wherever needed.


• Strong safety focus and ability to operate a forklift and other equipment as needed.

Other Information

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Customers receive timely, accurate, and exceptional service.


• Employees understand priorities, expectations, and their role in serving the customer.


• People and resources are aligned effectively with daily and weekly workload.


• Work moves efficiently across teams without unnecessary bottlenecks or delays.


• Operational issues are addressed quickly and not passed along.


• Teams communicate effectively and work together to accomplish location priorities.


• The location operates safely, efficiently, and with a high level of accountability.


• The facility reflects ownership and is organized, professional, and ready to serve customers.