Operations Management Trainee (OMT)

Job Description

Trainee Operations Management – Shelbyville, TN | Tyson Foods

The Tone:
This is a developmental leadership position at Tyson Foods, located in Shelbyville, TN. Tyson Foods is a major food production company dedicated to producing high-quality products. This role is crucial for supporting daily production and operational performance, directly contributing to continuous improvement in safety, quality, efficiency, and compliance across plant and live operations. It is designed to build foundational leadership capability for managing teams and processes.

The TL;DR
• Role: Trainee Program
• Type: Full-time, 1st Shift
• Location: In-person, Shelbyville, TN

• Team: Reports to leadership; partners with various plant departments.
• Mission: To support and influence day-to-day production and operational performance by identifying opportunities, recommending solutions, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Tech Stack: Excel, SAP or related systems (preferred)

What You’ll Actually Do
• Analysis: Analyze operational performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Improvement: Recommend and help implement process enhancements related to safety, quality, yield, and efficiency.
• Troubleshooting: Exercise independent judgment in troubleshooting operational issues and proposing effective solutions.
• Collaboration: Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with HR, Maintenance, FSQA, and Accounting to support plant objectives.
• Leadership: Lead or direct teams in assigned situations, such as gap coverage, line oversight, or project leadership.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Associate’s degree, technical degree, or higher in a related field, or equivalent practical experience (1 year) in a leadership position.
• Experience: Demonstrated exposure through internships, hands-on work, or academic projects in production, agriculture, manufacturing, or live operations environments, showcasing analytical thinking, problem-solving, and independent judgment.
• Skills: Basic computer proficiency, strong communication and interpersonal skills, problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, leadership potential with the ability to influence without authority, and adaptability to learn multiple functions.
• Bonus: Bachelor’s degree preferred, and a basic understanding of safety and quality standards is also preferred.