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Plant Operations Manager

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Job ID 319549 Date posted 12/15/2025 Location : Dayton, Virginia Category  BUILD OPERATE MAINTAIN (PLANT OPNS) Job Status  Salaried Full Time

Cargill is a family company committed to providing food and agricultural solutions to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. We sit at the heart of the supply chain, partnering with producers and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital for living. By providing customers with life’s essentials, we enable businesses to grow, communities to prosper, and consumers to live well.

This position is in our Food Enterprise where we are committed to serving food manufacturers, food service customers, and retailers with a complete range of innovative ingredients and branded products. Our portfolio includes poultry, beef, egg, alternative protein, salt, oils, starches, sweeteners, cocoa and chocolate.

Job Purpose and Impact

The Plant Operations Manager will provide strategic operational oversight for all significant and highly complex production and operating processes for the Dayton plant. In this role, you will be accountable for standards aligned to safety, quality, operational effectiveness, and financial performance.

Key Accountabilities

  • Lead and ensure the Dayton facility operates safely and in compliance with regulatory and corporate safety and environmental programs standards and goals
  • Oversee consistent and quality execution of multiple products across multiple production lines while driving reliability-centered manufacturing operations
  • Partner in strategy execution, management, and compliance of capital and operating budgets, and contribute to overseeing the strategy of capital investment projects and spending within a high asset utilization and complex plant
  • Lead and own the strategic implementation results of operational efficiency programs for Dayton’s products which supply multiple businesses and customers
  • Champion a culture that builds, operates, and maintains plants that are operationally sound, safe, and efficient
  • Develop plans and deliver results in a fast-changing business and/or regulatory environment while leading and developing a team of experienced professionals and supervisors, exhibiting authority for talent management decisions related to hiring, performance, and disciplinary actions
  • Coordinate with direct report managers and supervisors in selecting staff to align with current and future needs of the organization
  • Other duties as assigned

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Minimum Qualifications

  • Right to work in the United States that is not based solely on the possession of a student visa or a visa sponsored by a third-party employer
  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience
  • Minimum of six years of directly related work experience
  • Operational excellence or continuous improvement experience within a manufacturing environment
  • Budgeting and operations planning experience

Preferred Qualifications

  • Leadership experience within a poultry processing facility
  • Four years of formal supervisory experience
  • Experience leading high-volume teams with both direct and indirect reports

Posting Information

Location: Dayton, VA
Relocation: Relocation may be provided for eligible candidates

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet

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