Shift Manager

Wayne-Sanderson Farms; Arkansas; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayne Farms is seeking a senior operations leader to direct and coordinate plant shift activities, ensuring productivity and cost efficiency while enforcing all food safety programs. You will lead a large team, develop employees, and maintain USDA-compliant processes across the production floor.

The role requires extensive experience in poultry manufacturing, strong leadership skills, and a proven record in achieving safety and quality targets in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with 6+ years in a manufacturing environment or an Associate's degree with 6+ years of experience.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership supervising 200+ personnel.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs and food safety programs.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate plant shift operations to achieve productivity and cost objectives.
• Lead, train and develop employees; conduct safety meetings and handle grievances.
• Ensure compliance with food safety programs and USDA requirements; drive process improvements.
• Maintain reporting, quality, and production schedules; manage budgets and performance.
• Foster communication, build teams, and maintain a safe, high-performance work environment.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Production operations

Food safety compliance

HACCP knowledge

OSHA guidelines

English proficiency

Budgeting

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associates Degree (relevant)

Bachelor’s Degree in related discipline (preferred)

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

Primarily responsible for directing, controlling, and coordinating all aspects of plant operations on a production shift, and ensuring all procedures are followed ensuring achievement of the highest level of productivity in the most cost efficient manner. Provide leadership and manage a shift of production employees, ensuring compliance with all food safety programs, and enforcing Wayne Farms’ policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

• Manage assigned shift’s production operations.
• Work with employees to develop good working relationships and high morale while performing administrative duties as it relates to the production process.
• Manager production objectives and ensure they are being met.
• Foster positive communication ensuring project timelines and tasks are completed.
• Develop and train employees, holding monthly shift safety meetings, group discussions, and troubleshooting areas that might cause problems with production.
• Handle employee grievances.
• Oversee all production employees while providing an environment for employees to achieve maximum quality and productivity performance.
• Manage all aspects of production processing and employee performance, providing positive and/or corrective feedback.
• Ensure safety throughout assigned work area.
• Review and ensure reporting requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner.
• Work with Quality Assurance ensuring a food safe and sanitary environment within specifications and USDA requirements.
• Establish and adjust procedures meeting production schedules, production efficiencies, and budget objectives.
• Plan and implement process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with established food safety programs, including HACCP programs, SSOPs and GMPs.
• Optimize profit reducing costs with continuous improvement activities through employee involvement and positive leadership.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 5 – 15 salaried production employees and indirect responsibility for 200+ hourly production employees.
• This is a Leader of Leaders position with required competencies: Strategic Agility, Business Acumen, Building Effective Teams, Customer Focus and Command Skills.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent AND a minimum of 8 years’ relevant experience in a similar manufacturing environment; OR Associates Degree in a relevant discipline AND 6 years’ relevant experience in a similar manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 5 years’ leadership and/or supervisory experience of 200+ persons.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited institution.
• 8+ years’ experience within the food manufacturing industry.
• 8+ years’ supervisory and/or leadership experience.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Working knowledge of poultry processing, food safety regulations, OSHA guidelines, GMPs and HACCP.
• Proficient knowledge of production processes, general line maintenance and staffing.
• Proficient English language knowledge and skills (oral and written).
• Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities.
• Demonstrated success building effective teams with proven ability to lead by engaging and motivating a team and influencing an organization.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills sufficient to communicate and interact effectively with all levels within the organization.
• Proficient knowledge and use of Microsoft office programs.
• Ability to work in fast paced environment with multiple priorities.
• Ability to handle and resolve most issues independently.
• High work capacity, dependable, results oriented and strong sense of urgency.
• Demonstrated sound work ethic, honesty and moral character.

REQUIRED PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS:

• Understand and interpret data while drawing logical conclusions based on available inputs.
• Critical thinking skills in standardized situations as well as non-routine problems.
• Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and prioritize work accordingly.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

• Follow departmental and company safety policies and programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work in extreme temperatures, frequently subject to extreme wet and cold, as well as hot and humid environments.
• Subject to odors and areas with moderate to extreme levels of noise.
• Lift up to 50 pounds.
• Bending, twisting, climbing, stacking, pushing and standing for long periods of time.
• Occasional weekend and off-shift work required.

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.