Trainee Operations Management-1st Shift-Waldron Plant

Tyson Foods; Waldron (AR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401(k) plans

Health, life, dental, vision benefits

Job summary

Tyson Foods seeks an Operations Management Trainee (OMT) to develop leadership capabilities while supporting day-to-day production. You will analyze performance data, identify opportunities for improvement, and collaborate across departments to drive safety, quality, and efficiency.

The program emphasizes hands-on learning in live operations, with exposure to staffing, production flow, and decision-making to build foundational leadership for managing teams and processes.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or higher in related field, or equivalent practical experience (1 year) required. Bachelor’s degree preferred in Operations, Agriculture, Animal Science, poultry science, Food Science, or similar.
• Internships or hands-on work in production, agriculture, or live operations showing analytical thinking and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze operational performance metrics and identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with HR, Maintenance, FSQA, and Accounting to support plant objectives.
• Lead teams or projects, providing insights and decisions to supervisors and managers.
• Drive continuous improvement, including cost savings, efficiency gains, or waste reduction opportunities.
• Apply leadership principles to influence team performance and accountability.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Independent judgment

Leadership potential

Communication skills

Team-oriented

Adaptability

Safety/quality awareness

Education

Associate's degree or higher

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Excel

SAP or related systems

Job description

Job Details: The Operations Management Trainee (OMT) role is a developmental leadership position responsible for supporting and influencing day-to-day production and operational performance through the application of independent judgment, data-driven analysis, and cross-functional collaboration. This role contributes to the execution of plant and live operations priorities by identifying operational opportunities, recommending solutions, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The OMT partners with leadership to enhance safety, quality, efficiency, and compliance while building foundational leadership capability to manage teams and processes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Analyze operational performance metrics and identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Recommend and help implement process improvements related to safety, quality, yield, and efficiency
• Exercise independent judgment in troubleshooting operational issues and proposing solutions
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with HR, Maintenance, FSQA, and Accounting to support plant objectives
• Lead or direct teams in assigned situations (e.g., gap coverage, line oversight, project leadership)
• Support decision-making by providing insights and recommendations to supervisors and managers
• Monitor and evaluate compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements; escalated risks as needed
• Participate in planning and execution of operational priorities, including staffing, production flow, and resource allocation
• Drive continuous improvement efforts, including identifying cost savings, efficiency gains, or waste reduction opportunities
• Apply leadership principles to influence team performance, engagement, and accountability
• Develop working knowledge of equipment, processes, and systems to support operational decision-making

Education and Experience

• Associate's degree, technical degree, or higher in a related field, or equivalent practical experience (1 year) required. Bachelor’s degree preferred. Programs/degrees within Operations, Agriculture, Animal Science, poultry science, Food Science, or similar fields are examples.
• Demonstrated exposure through internships, hands-on work, or academic projects in production, agriculture, manufacturing, live operations, or production operations environments. Demonstrate analytical thinking, problem-solving, and independent judgment in operational settings.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification

None Required

Special Job Competencies

• Basic computer skills (Excel, SAP or related systems preferred)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in fast-paced, team-oriented environments
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Leadership potential and ability to influence without authority
• Adaptability and willingness to learn multiple functions
• Basic understanding of safety and quality standards (preferred) and critical thinking skills

Supervisory

This role does not have direct reports but is expected to exercise leadership responsibilities, including directing team members, coordinating workflow, and making real-time decisions to support operational continuity. The role may lead teams, projects, or production lines and is expected to influence performance and outcomes through leadership and decision-making.

Travel

Up to 12 trips per year

All professional team members are expected to demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, adhering to company policies, and validating AI-generated outputs. Individual Contributors should demonstrate the ability to integrate AI into daily work, improve efficiency through AI-enabled solutions, evaluate outputs critically, and apply professional judgment when using AI. People Leaders should demonstrate the ability to drive responsible AI adoption, enable effective use of approved solutions, identify opportunities to improve team performance through AI, and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.

Relocation Assistance Eligibility

No

Work Shift

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

Background Checks

Certain roles at Tyson require background checks. If you are offered a position that requires a background check you will be provided additional documentation to complete once an offer has been extended.

Hourly Applicants Only

Hourly Applicants ONLY -You must complete the task after submitting your application to provide additional information to be considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tyson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.

Benefits

• paid time off
• 401(k) plans
• affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits
• and more

Privacy Policy

If you would like to learn more about your data privacy rights and how you may use that information, please read our Job Applicant Privacy Notice here.

Recruitment Policy

Unsolicited Assistance: Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for open positions within the United States. Any resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters to any employee or applicant tracking system at Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries, without a valid written request and search agreement approved by HR, will be considered the property of Tyson Foods. No fees will be paid if the candidate is hired due to an unsolicited referral.

Company Culture

Our team members make the difference.

At Tyson, we feed the world like family.

Our Talent Strategy is to Attract, Grow, Reward and Retain the best talent, and we believe that our Culture is the connecting thread that drives that strategy!

We strive to be a talent magnet to establish a reputation for being a talent rich organization where team members can grow their career while growing the business.

We are a high performing organization where team members are rewarded (Pay, Benefits and Recognition) for their contributions, and given the opportunity to support and/or volunteer with programs that help Tyson make a lasting social impact in the communities where we live and work.

Tyson Foods, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you are unable to apply for career opportunities through use of this site due to an impairment or disability, please contact [phone] for further assistance.