Dairy Manufacturing Management Trainee

Job Description

Dairy Foods Manufacturing Management Track Associate | Land O’Lakes, Inc.

The Tone:
This is a full-time training role at Land O’Lakes, Inc., with available locations in Kent, OH; Kiel, WI; Carlisle, PA; and Spencer, WI. Land O’Lakes is a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative dedicated to reimagining the business of food. This associate position is a structured management track designed to develop future manufacturing leaders, who will gain hands-on experience in all aspects of plant operations and contribute to the production of millions of pounds of cheese or butter.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Kent, OH; Kiel, WI; Carlisle, PA; Spencer, WI
• Pay: $70000 yearly
• Team: Manages a team of 10 to 40 production operators after 12 months.
• Mission: Develop future leaders to manage dairy plant operations and contribute to the production of millions of pounds of cheese or butter.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Learn: Learn and support all plant processes, including regulatory compliance for safety and quality, maintenance, human resources, and administrative functions.
• Participate: Engage in formal training, work assignments, strategic projects, and career development opportunities as part of the structured curriculum.
• Supervise: Transition into a supervisory role after 12 months, managing production operations and a team of 10 to 40 production operators.
• Lead: Lead and develop frontline team members, fostering their growth and performance within the plant.
• Drive: Drive continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence across various plant functions.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, food science, ag business, animal science, supply chain, operations management, or an agriculture-related field, with an expected graduation date of winter 2026 or spring 2027.
• Experience: Successfully completed the Land O’Lakes internship program; demonstrated leadership in school, academic, or industry-related clubs; willingness to relocate for the program and then upon program completion is required.
• Skills: Ability to make effective decisions and work independently with limited supervision; strong interaction skills with customers, suppliers, employees, and management at all levels; capability to solve and resolve issues quickly and effectively; demonstrated safety awareness, quality orientation, and a focus on process improvement; excellent written and oral communication skills; strong time management skills and detail-oriented; willingness to work extended hours during peak seasons.
• Bonus: Previous exposure to a dairy manufacturing or general production environment.