Manufacturing Supervisor - 1st Shift

Manufacturing Supervisor - 1st Shift

This role is part of our Purina Animal Nutrition business helping our network of local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers serve producers, and animal owners throughout the United States. Through industry -leading R&D and committed partnerships, we innovate the nutrition products and practices that unlock the full potential of every animal for a healthier, more productive life.

The 1st Shift Manufacturing Supervisor serves as the operational leader for the site's day shift while providing leadership and operational oversight that extends beyond the production floor. This role is responsible for leading first shift manufacturing operations while maintaining overall accountability for warehouse operations, raw material receiving, inventory movement, and supporting operational continuity across second shift.


Working closely with Maintenance, Quality, Planning, Customer Service, and Logistics, this individual ensures safe, efficient, and compliant operations while delivering exceptional service to our customers. Success in this role requires a leader who thrives on the production floor, develops employees, drives accountability, and proactively removes barriers to operational success.

This position offers expanded leadership responsibility beyond a traditional production supervisor role and is ideal for individuals seeking to broaden their operational leadership experience.


Responsibilities will include:

• L ead daily first shift manufacturing operations while providing operational oversight for warehouse, receiving, and second shift activities to ensure continuity across the operation.
• Champion a culture where safety is the highest priority by ensuring compliance with all company safety policies, OSHA requirements, safe work practices, and leading safety observations, toolbox meetings, and incident investigations.
• Ensure compliance with GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, the site's Food Safety Plan, sanitation standards, and all regulatory requirements while promoting a culture of food safety and quality.
• Coordinate daily production schedules and resources to meet safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity objectives.
• Monitor production performance, labor utilization, downtime, waste, yield, inventory accuracy, and schedule attainment, taking timely action to address operational gaps.
• Provide leadership for warehouse operations, raw material receiving, inventory movement, and material flow to support efficient production while maintaining FIFO practices and inventory integrity.
• Partner with Maintenance to prioritize preventative maintenance, improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Planning, Quality, Customer Service, Logistics, and Maintenance to optimize production performance and exceed customer expectations.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor by coaching employees, removing operational barriers, reinforcing standard work, and fostering a culture of accountability.
• Recruit, train, coach, develop, and hold team members accountable while supporting employee engagement, succession planning, and career development.
• Lead root cause investigations, implement corrective actions, and utilize production metrics and KPIs to drive continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and TMM principles.
• Effectively communicate production priorities, operational issues, staffing needs, and shift handoffs to ensure alignment across all departments and shifts.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support business objectives.

Required Experience/Education:

• Bachelor's degree and 1+ years of increasing responsibility in feed/ food manufacturing environment, including supervisory accountability OR High School degree with 5+ years of manufacturing experience plus 1+ years of leadership experience.
• Candidates in the rotational Land O' Lakes programs (TAP/MMT/DMT) will be considered
• Solid organization skills and detail orientation skills
• Capacity for consistently meeting deadlines and managing multiple projects
• Strong computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suites and data entry
• Demonstrated effective communication skills - written and verbal;
• Proven ability to coach, decision making, facilitates change, managing conflict; and ability to align performance with success.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Feed, grain, milling, food manufacturing, or other continuous process manufacturing experience.
• Previous leadership experience in a 24/5 or 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading warehouse, inventory, shipping, or receiving operations.
• Working knowledge of SAP, JD Edwards (JDE), MES, or similar ERP systems.
• Experience with production planning and scheduling.
• Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Continuous Improvement experience.
• HACCP and/or PCQI certification.
• OSHA or advanced safety training.

Competencies-Skills (Required):

• Communication, Decision Making, Safety Awareness, Quality Orientation, Technical / Professional Knowledge, Customer Focus, Time Management, Computer skills.

Operational Hours: Plant operates 24/5; weekends as needed. This role is for the 1st shift - 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM, M-F but may require work on other shifts.

Salary Range: $70,800- $106,200

In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O'Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.

Neither Land O'Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.


If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U View phone number on click.appcast.io) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.