Operations Site Director

Land O'Lakes; Tulare (CA); On-site; USD 211,000 - 304,000; Full time

Job summary

Land O’Lakes in Tulare, CA seeks an Operations Site Director to lead our flagship dairy manufacturing plant. This 24/7 operation requires a visionary leader who can drive cultural evolution, lean transformation, and advanced automation to boost reliability and yield.

You will own the strategy, rebuild trust across union and non-union teams, manage capital, and balance the budget to maximize profitability while delivering safe, high-quality products.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership.
• LEAN, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement advocate.
• Proven experience managing union facilities and unifying cross-functional teams (EHS, Quality, Finance, Sales).
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Agriculture, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Redefine culture and operational excellence at a critical node in the supply chain.
• Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for massive, sustainable transformation.
• Oversee both union and non-union teams with accountability and collaboration across functions.
• Balance P&L, capital budgets, and cost-to-serve to maximize profitability.
• Ensure safety, quality, and customer service in a 24/7 dairy plant.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

LEAN

Six Sigma

Continuous improvement

Union facilities management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Agriculture, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related

Job description

Full-time

Operations Site Director

Salary Range: $210,520 - $304,100. In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges.

The Challenge: Rewrite the Playbook at Our Largest Facility

This role is designed for a dynamic leader who thrives on driving transformational change and building the future of manufacturing.

We are seeking a visionary, high-impact Site Director to take the helm of our flagship dairy manufacturing plant in Tulare, CA. As our largest 24/7/365 milk-balancing powerhouse, this facility is primed for its next major chapter of operational evolution. The foundational pieces are all here: the immense scale, the technology, the capital investment, and a resilient team. Now, we need the architect to tie it all together and elevate the site to its full potential.

If you are a seasoned operational leader who is driven by complex challenges rather than "smooth sailing". If you are genuinely energized by driving cultural evolution, leading complex change management, and pushing the boundaries of what a modern plant can do, you've found your next legacy project.

Position Overview and Key Responsibilities

As the Operations Site Director, you won't just manage daily operations; you will actively redefine the culture and operational excellence of a critical node in our supply chain. You will have the autonomy, the capital backing, and the mandate to drive massive, sustainable transformation. Your strategic roadmap will center on several key priorities:

• Lead the Evolution: Rebuild trust, establish clear accountability, and foster a high-performance, collaborative culture across both union and non-union teams.
• Pioneer Advanced Tech: We aren't just talking about Industry 4.0 we are doing it. You will leverage data, AI, and cutting-edge automation to optimize plant assets, maximize material yield, and drive predictive reliability.
• Own the P&L: Manage resources, capital budgets, and cost-to-serve (CTS) dynamics to maximize profitability for our farmer-owned cooperative.
• Balance the Grid: Oversee a massive, round-the-clock operation receiving fresh milk and producing top-tier butter and powder, ensuring flawless execution in quality, safety, and customer service.

You are likely well-compensated and respected in your current role, but you might be feeling like the heavy lifting is already done where you are. You're looking for a new mountain to climb. This role could be your next great challenge, and if you bring the following track record of successful transformation, you have the exact blueprint we are looking for.

Required Experience & Blueprint for Success

• The Track Record: 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership, with a definitive history of steering successful manufacturing transformations and cultural evolution.
• The Mindset: A champion of LEAN, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement who sees operational gaps as an invitation to innovate.
• The People Leader: Proven experience managing union facilities with an authentic, highly engaging leadership style that unifies cross-functional teams (EHS, Quality, Finance, Sales).
• The Foundation: A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Agriculture, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or a related field.

Preferred Assets

• While expertise in dairy manufacturing (specifically raw milk and cream processing) is highly valued, it is not a prerequisite. We welcome top-tier operational leaders from any high-volume, complex manufacturing background who are ready to learn our process.
• Advanced Lean/Continuous Improvement certifications.

Are you ready to build something that lasts? Submit your application and let's talk.