Operations Leadership Associate

Agropur Cooperative; Little Chute (WI); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Short-term Disability

Long-term Disability

401(k) match

Paid Time Off

Holidays & Floating

Parental Leave

Advancement Opportunities

Job summary

Agropur Cooperative offers an 18-month Manufacturing & Operations Leadership Development Program in the United States (Wisconsin). You will rotate through Production, Maintenance, Planning, and Quality, guided by mentorship and leadership coaching to develop technical and people-management skills for high-performance manufacturing.

The program emphasizes Lean, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making, with opportunities for advancement after successful completion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Dairy Manufacturing, Food Science, Production & Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or related field.
• Internship or relevant project experience in manufacturing, operations, or industrial technology (preferred).
• Demonstrated leadership through internships, campus involvement, or team projects.
• Willingness to relocate for assignments (if required).
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Rotate through key operational functions: Production, Maintenance, Planning, and Quality.
• Support process optimization and frontline team coordination.
• Partner with cross-functional teams and leadership through mentorship and workshops.
• Prepare for frontline leadership or supervisory roles upon program completion.

Skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Data-driven decisions

Education

Dairy Manufacturing

Food Science

Production & Operations Management

Industrial Technology

Job description

Job Type:Temporary (Durée déterminée)People are at the heart of our success. Our culture encourages collaboration, transparency, and accountability to create value and achieve sustainable results. Being part of Agropur means joining a team where your contributions matter, your ideas are heard, and your work has a meaningful impact on the future of our business.Rigor, discipline, and professionalism are essential to delivering sustainable resultsOur Manufacturing & Operations Leadership Development Program is designed for new graduates who aspire to become the next generation of leaders within our manufacturing network. Inspired by industry-leading programs, this structured 18 month s rotational experience offers hands-on exposure across key areas of our operations.Through progressive rotations, mentorship, and leadership coaching, you will gain the technical, operational, and people-management skills needed to lead teams in a high-performance manufacturing environment .A structured work environment:Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance401(k) with 7% company contributions3 weeks Paid Time OffPaid holidays and 2 floating holidaysPaid parental leaveAdvancement OpportunitiesStarting salary: $70,000Your day-to-day responsibilities:As an Associate in our Manufacturing & Operations Leadership Development Program, t hrough structured rotations, mentorship, and leadership coaching, you will gain the technical, operational, and people-management skills needed to lead teams in a high-performance manufacturing environment . You will rotate through several key operational functions including:Production & operationsMaintenance & automationPlanning & distributionQuality & Food safetyContinuous improvementsYour role in achieving results:Work directly in production environments, supporting process optimization and taking on early team ‑ coordination responsibilities.Follow a personalized development plan supported by mentorship, coaching, and leadership workshops.Collaborate with cross functional teams and gain visibility with senior leaders.Be considered for a frontline leadership or supervisory role upon successful completion.You will learn:How to build foundational leadership and people ‑ management skills.How manufacturing operations and production processes function from end to end.Key principles of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and root cause analysis.How supply chain planning, scheduling, and workflow optimization drive operational success.How to make data driven decisions using performance metrics and operational insights.What you need to join our team:Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s degree in Dairy Manufacturing, Food Science, Production & Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or a related technical or business fieldInternship or relevant project experience in manufacturing, operations, or industrial technology (preferred)Demonstrated leadership through internships, campus involvement, or team projectsStrong communication, analytical, and problem ‑ solving skillsMobility to relocate for assignments (if required)Genuine interest in leading teams in a manufacturing environmentA role for those who want to create real impact and contribute to measurable and sustainable results.Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec. Agropur uses artificial intelligence technology to assist our recruiters in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.