Manager in Training - Operations

Wayne-Sanderson Farms; Hattiesburg (MS); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayne-Sanderson Farms invites aspiring leaders to join its Manager in Training (MIT) Program, a structured 12-month track designed to grow early talent into future leaders. Participants will rotate through plant operations and live production, gaining cross-functional exposure and hands-on experience while developing critical leadership competencies.

Candidates should hold a college degree (associate, bachelor, or higher) and be willing to relocate within the company footprint.

Qualifications

• Must have a college degree (associate/bachelor/graduate) or complete degree by MIT start date.
• Must be able to relocate within the company geographic footprint.
• 0–5 years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Learn day-to-day operations under supervision of managers or mentors and through hands-on experience across departments to understand operations, processes, procedures and performance standards.
• Learn and understand internal and external customer requirements, using information and feedback to improve products and services.
• Identify opportunities for improvement, analyze root causes, propose solutions and collaborate with departments to implement permanent fixes.
• Partner with leadership to guide day-to-day activities of frontline associates.
• Make principled decisions by applying LEAP philosophy in daily interactions.
• Align with the Company’s vision to create meaningful personal and subordinate goals.
• Follow safety initiatives and support a zero-accident culture.
• Perform additional relevant duties as assigned.

Skills

Courage and resiliency

Interpersonal savv y

Conflict management

Accountability

Action-oriented leadership

High learning agility

Education

College degree

Job description

EARLY CAREERS- Launch your career. Grow your impact. Lead the future.

The Manager in Training (MIT) Program at Wayne-Sanderson Farms (WSF) is a structured 12-month training program designed to cultivate early talent into future leaders within the company. Throughout the program, participants will develop critical leadership skills necessary to thrive in dynamic and challenging environments. Early talent must possess skills related to the program competencies and a college degree.

Candidate Requirements:

• College degree required (associate, bachelors, graduate) OR completed college degree by MIT start date.
• Must be able to relocate within company geographic footprint.
• 0-5 years of experience

What an MIT Should Expect to Develop:

• Courage and Resiliency: Build the strength to face challenges head-on and recover quickly from setbacks.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Enhance the ability to interact effectively with others, understanding diverse perspectives, and building strong relationships.
• Conflict Management: Learn to navigate and resolve conflicts in a constructive and professional manner.
• Accountability: Cultivate a sense of ownership and responsibility for decisions, actions, and outcomes.
• Action-Oriented Leadership: Develop a proactive approach to leadership, driving results through decisive and timely actions.
• High Learning Agility: Adapt quickly to new information, environments, and challenges, demonstrating a continuous learning mindset.

What an MIT Should Expect During Program:

• Clear Pathway to Leadership: A structured and transparent pathway to leadership roles within the organization.
• Well-Rounded Development: Opportunities for comprehensive growth, including skills development, leadership training, and cross-functional experience.
• Mentorship and Exposure: Access to mentorship, hands-on training, and opportunities to interact with and learn from senior leadership, providing valuable insights and guidance.
• Structured Rotation Schedule: Rotations including plant operations, live production, and relevant business functions.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Learn the day-to-day operations by working under the supervision of functional managers or mentors and through direct, hands‑on experience in all assigned departments to develop an understanding of departmental operations, processes, procedures and performance standards; apply learned skills in daily interactions with employees, vendors, customers, etc.
• Learn and understand the requirements of both internal and external customers, using information and feedback to improve products and services.
• Identify opportunities for improvement, including underlying root cause, suggest solutions and work with various departments to implement a creative solution to permanently remedy issues.
• Partner with experienced leadership to lead and direct the day-to-day activities of frontline associates.
• Make principled decisions in daily interactions with peers, subordinates and management by learning, understanding and applying the LEAP philosophy.
• Learn and understand the Company’s vision and objectives to create meaningful and measurable personal and subordinate goals
• Follow and ensure others follow all safety initiatives helping to maintain a zero-accident culture.
• Perform additional relevant duties as assigned.

Physical & Safety Requirements:

• Follow departmental and company safety policies and programs.
• Wear required protective equipment in all areas where mandatory.
• Ability to travel throughout facilities both indoors and out.
• Ability to work in a wet, cold, hot, humid, and/or dusty environment.
• Occasionally lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to work unusual shifts (holidays, weekends and extended) as needed to meet production requirement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.