Operations Director

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is a leading Fortune 250 cooperative owned by farmers and members, recognized for its innovative contributions to the agriculture and food industries. As a company committed to reimagining the business of food, Land O'Lakes operates globally with a broad portfolio of products and services that span the supply chain, from seed and crop nutrients to livestock feeds, food ingredients, and financial services that support rural communities. The company has earned accolades as a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn and is listed among the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies, reflecting its commitment to fostering a positive work environment, diversity, and industry leadership.

The Operations Director role within Land O'Lakes is a pivotal leadership position based in Saint Joseph, Missouri, responsible for overseeing the comprehensive operations of the Omnium manufacturing portfolio. This portfolio specializes in the production of Herbicides, Insecticides, Micronutrients, and Plant Growth Regulators, serving Winfield United and a strategic array of external toll customers. As a key member of the Omnium leadership team, the Operations Director plays an integral role in shaping and implementing divisional business strategies, driving operational excellence, and ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.

This role demands a broad yet detailed scope of responsibilities that include ensuring safety, quality, and cost-efficiency in manufacturing operations across multiple facilities. The Director is charged with the delivery of all business goals encompassing safety compliance, quality assurance, cost control, and financial reporting. An essential part of the job is to develop and execute long-term capital plans in collaboration with divisional engineering, ensuring continuous capital investment supports operational efficiency and business growth.

The Operations Director acts as a bridge between strategic leadership and operational execution. They serve on the divisional leadership team, contribute to the business strategy's evolution, and oversee the tactical implementation of critical targets set by the Transformation Engine Team. This position is highly collaborative, requiring close interaction with various departments such as Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), Quality, Finance, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Research & Development to foster a team-oriented approach to manufacturing and customer relationship management.

Key to success in this role is the strong leadership and people management acumen needed to guide multiple manufacturing sites toward achieving business objectives. This includes managing resources efficiently, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations, maintaining customer service levels that meet marketplace expectations, and instituting quality management systems. The Director must also lead efforts to improve manufacturing efficiency and labor productivity through the development and implementation of capacity analysis and targeted improvement goals (WIGs).

This position offers a competitive salary range of $163,520 to $245,280, with most new hires expected to start near the midpoint. It requires up to 40% travel to various facility locations. Land O'Lakes emphasizes employee development, integrity, delivering results, and leveraging talent, which aligns with the leadership expectations for this role. Candidates should be prepared to relocate to Saint Joseph, Missouri, to lead this vital aspect of Land O'Lakes' operations in a dynamic and growth-oriented environment. The company also supports diversity in hiring practices and provides comprehensive benefits to support employees and their families, reinforcing its reputation as an employer of choice in the agriculture sector.