Rising Production Leader — Projects & Operations

Dairy Farmers of America; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Dairy Farmers of America is seeking an Associate Production Manager - Special Projects & Leadership Development to drive rotational assignments and lead key manufacturing initiatives in a high-volume dairy environment. You will work across production, quality, maintenance, engineering, warehousing, and supply chain to advance safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.

You will participate in leadership development programs, shadow production managers, manage projects from charter to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Internship, co-op, military leadership, or supervisory experience.
• Experience in food, dairy, or beverage manufacturing environments.
• Certification and/or License - may be required during course of employment.

Responsibilities

• Complete operations development encompassing Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Processing disciplines.
• Develop proficiency in plant operations, food safety systems, labor management, and performance leadership.
• Participate in leadership development programs and management training initiatives.
• Shadow and support Production Managers and Plant Leadership to gain operational leadership experience.
• Develop competency in daily management systems, KPI reviews, employee coaching, and performance management.
• Lead capital, operational, and continuous improvement projects from concept through implementation.
• Coordinate project activities with internal stakeholders, contractors, suppliers, and corporate resources.
• Develop project charters, timelines, budgets, risk assessments, and implementation plans.
• Track project performance and communicate progress to plant leadership.
• Assist with commercialization and startup support for new products, packaging formats, and manufacturing technologies.
• Provide support for bottle, gable top, esl, aseptic, and packaging operations as assigned.
• Monitor operational performance and assist supervisors in achieving production goals.
• Participate in Daily Vital Signs, shift handoffs, and performance review meetings.
• Assist with labor planning, schedule attainment, and efficient resource utilization.
• Support production teams during startup, changeovers, troubleshooting, and process improvement activities.
• Ensure compliance with: GMP Requirements, HACCP Programs, SQF Standards, FDA Regulations, Customer Requirements.
• Participate in audits, inspections, and corrective action activities.
• Support investigation of product quality, food safety, and operational deviations.
• Build relationships across departments and shifts.
• Conduct employee observations and coaching activities.
• Participate in employee engagement initiatives and leadership training programs.
• Support development of frontline supervisors and team leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical

Project management

Power BI

Manufacturing systems

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Manufacturing systems

Job description

Dairy Farmers of America is seeking an Associate Production Manager - Special Projects & Leadership Development to drive rotational assignments and lead key manufacturing initiatives in a high-volume dairy environment. You will work across production, quality, maintenance, engineering, warehousing, and supply chain to advance safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.

You will participate in leadership development programs, shadow production managers, manage projects from charter to