Operations Leadership Development Program (OLDP)

Job Description

Operations Leadership Development Program | Palmer-Donavin

The Tone:
This is a full-time, rotational program at Palmer-Donavin, an employee-owned company involved in the distribution, manufacturing, and corporate operations of home building materials. The program is designed for individuals willing to travel and potentially relocate across the Midwest and Southeast. This Operations Leadership Development Program (OLDP) is crucial for cultivating the next generation of operations leaders, offering comprehensive hands-on experience. Participants will gain direct exposure to critical business functions, preparing them for key leadership roles upon program completion.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person (Midwest and Southeast travel/relocation required)
• Mission: To develop future operations leaders through hands-on experience across distribution, manufacturing, and corporate operations within Palmer-Donavin.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Execute Operations: Learn and perform daily operational processes within distribution centers and manufacturing, encompassing receiving, picking, loading, inventory control, production workflows, and quality control.
• Observe Shift Operations: Participate in mid-shift and night-shift activities to gain comprehensive exposure to 24-hour operational environments.
• Supervise Associates: Oversee front-line associates during designated supervisory experience rotations, managing task delegation, productivity tracking, and safety adherence.
• Analyze Performance: Monitor and analyze operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), reports, and dashboards to pinpoint inefficiencies and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead Capstone Project: Direct a capstone project addressing a real operational issue, culminating in presenting findings and recommendations to senior leadership.

The Must-Haves
• Background: An early career professional holding a Bachelor’s degree or actively completing coursework toward a Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Demonstrated strong interest in pursuing a long-term career in operations leadership. This role requires flexibility and commitment to a rigorous rotational schedule.
• Skills: A crucial willingness to work non-traditional hours, including mid-shift and night-shift rotations, is essential. Additionally, the ability and willingness to travel and relocate as required, both during and after the program, are fundamental for successful participation.
• Bonus: Previous internship, co-op, or relevant work experience in operations, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, or supply chain is highly valued. Experience leading teams, projects, or student organizations is also a plus, along with strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and clear communication skills, and the ability to adapt quickly in hands-on environments.