Director Trade & Operations

Management Level: 90

Work Shift:

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

The Director Trade and Operations is responsible for end-to-end performance across international export trade lanes and multi-site operational execution. This role establishes and manages freight forwarding and supply-side services (air, ocean, consolidations, and related logistics solutions) while also providing leadership, coaching, and performance oversight across multiple plant locations to ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and high-quality operations. The position partners in a highly matrixed environment across Business Units, Sales, Global Trade & Access, Origination Logistics, and plant leadership to deliver strong customer service, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and optimized total delivered cost.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership Across Multiple Plan Locations

• Provide leadership and oversight across multiple plant locations, ensuring efficient operations, safety, quality, maintenance effectiveness, and process improvement.
• Motivate, coach, and develop plant managers and leadership teams; enhance team capability through structured development programs.
• Lead problem resolution and provide optimal solutions for daily operations; address and correct underperformance with clear action plans and accountability.
• Support onboarding and training of new plant managers; identify and deliver development opportunities for plant leadership.

Continuous Improvement, Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Initiate and lead improvements across production, maintenance, safety, food safety, and food quality.
• Resolve issues related to incoming/outgoing product quality and operational performance.
• Partner with Global Trade & Access to ensure regulatory requirements and changes are met for destination countries.

Capital, Projects & Strategic Initiatives

• Contribute to and analyze efficiency reports; support the evaluation, approval, and execution of capital improvements for designated facilities (as applicable).
• Oversee and manage special projects for the Business Unit, including cross-functional initiatives tied to service, cost, capability, and performance.

Talent, Succession & Organizational Capability

• Identify key performers for succession planning; help build and strengthen the leadership pipeline.
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• Establish and execute training needs and programs, particularly focused at the plant manager level and critical operational leadership roles.
• Provide guidance and coaching to plant managers and support groups; step in to cover leadership gaps as needed.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required (or equivalent experience)

Experience:

• 8 years of relevant experience with a blend of:
  • International supply chain shipments, trade lane operations, freight forwarding, and/or export logistics
  • Multi-site manufacturing/operations leadership, plant performance oversight, and continuous improvement
  • Poultry/manufacturing experience is a plus

Communication Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence and collaborate across multiple cultures, native languages, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to connect effectively with sensitivity and diplomacy in global environments.

Special Skills:

• Strong understanding of international logistics modes (air, ocean, consolidations), trade lane performance levers, and customer service operations.
• Proven ability to operate in ambiguity with speed and agility; strong judgment and decision-making under pressure.
• Demonstrated capability in performance management using KPIs, dashboards, and operational review rhythms.
• Strong business and financial acumen; ability to interpret cost/performance data and translate it into action.

Supervisory:

• Leads and influences across multiple functions and locations; provides guidance, leadership, and coaching to plant managers and support teams.
• May indirectly manage multiple groups performing diverse tasks across several locations

Travel: Travel as necessary - up to 25%

Internal Management & Management Support Applicants:

Automatic notification to your current manager will be initiated upon selection for interview. This applies to all candidates who are level 79 or above.

All professional team members are expected to demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, adhering to company policies, and validating AI-generated outputs. Individual Contributors should demonstrate the ability to integrate AI into daily work, improve efficiency through AI-enabled solutions, evaluate outputs critically, and apply professional judgment when using AI. People Leaders should demonstrate the ability to drive responsible AI adoption, enable effective use of approved solutions, identify opportunities to improve team performance through AI, and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Referral Payout Eligible:

No

For Professional Management levels, internal applicants should either upload a resume to their application OR complete their application fully showing current and past work experience in the sections provided.

The successful candidate(s) must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; and more.

Tyson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, national origin, color, religion, age, genetics, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.

CCPA Notice. If you are a California resident, and would like to learn more about what categories of personal information we collect when you apply for this job, and how we may use that information, please read our CCPA Job Applicant Notice at Collection, click here .