Dairy Foods Manufacturing Management Track Associate (MMT) at Land O'Lakes, Inc. in Melrose, Minnesota

Job Description:

Dairy Foods Manufacturing Management Track Associate (MMT)

Join Land O'Lakes, Inc., and help us bring food from farmer to fork, building vibrant communities along the way. We're a global, Fortune 250 company and a farmer-owned cooperative, which means we work for one another-not Wall Street. We're proud to rank a Top Workplace. We offer the following:

• Competitive compensation and rewards


• Best-in-class healthcare for you and your family


• Powerful savings programs


• Training and career progression

The Manufacturing Management Track is intended to be a training position for future development into manufacturing leadership roles. Responsibilities and activities include learning all plant processes, including regulatory compliance programs - both safety and quality, maintenance, human resources activities, and managerial and administrative functions.

You will have the opportunity to develop skills through a core curriculum of formal training, work assignments, strategic projects, career development and networking opportunities and involvement in community service. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible for key roles within Supply Chain & Operations Manufacturing plants based on business needs, career interests, and aptitude. You will be well positioned for a successful and challenging career with Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Program Start Dates:

• January 2025


• June 2025

Dairy Foods Overview

The Dairy Foods business makes and markets dairy-based products under our diverse array of brands. These products are found in grocery, mass and club retailers, and in restaurants, schools and healthcare facilities. In addition, our dairy products are essential ingredients in leading international consumer brands. As an associate, you will be assigned to one of our Dairy Foods plant locations to assist in leading the overall managerial activities of the facility.

Dairy Foods MMT's will spend 12 months at a Dairy Plant learning to supervise a production floor. They will learn our safety and quality systems, continuous improvement, leadership, maintenance. This will include both a broad view as well as targeted skills to make you a successful supervisor upon completion of the program. After 6 months, you will be placed in a supervisor role in one of our Dairy Plants. You will have the opportunity to supervise a team of 10-40 production operators and will be a critical component of the process to produce millions of pounds of cheese or butter making it to store shelves. The skills you will learn as a supervisor will set you up for a career in manufacturing management. After supervising, former MMT's have taken roles as Technical Managers, Production Managers, Quality Managers, Reliability Engineers, and various other roles.

Available Locations:

• Spencer, WI


• Melrose, MN


• Pine Island, MN


• Kent, OH


• Tulare, CA

Required Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, food science, ag business, animal science, supply chain, operations management, or agriculture related field with an expected graduation date of Winter 2024 or Spring 2025


• Demonstrated leadership in school/academic/industry-related clubs


• Willingness to relocate for the program and then upon program completion is required

Professional Qualifications:

• Make effective decisions and can work independently with limited supervision


• Interact well with customers, suppliers, employees and management of all levels


• Solve and resolve issues quickly and effectively


• Demonstrated safety awareness, quality orientation, and a focus on process improvement


• Excellent written and oral communication skills


• Strong time management skills and detail-oriented


• Willing to work extended hours during peak seasons

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous exposure to dairy manufacturing or general production environment is preferred

Salary for this role is based upon experience and is in the approximate salary range of $65,000-$68,000.

Physical Qualifications:

Working in a manufacturing or warehouse environment, you will be walking, standing and engaging in movement throughout the day, and occasionally to frequently be required to lift items weighing up to 50 lbs. Due to a large variety of job duties (both routine and non-routine), certain duties also may involve, a variety of physical activities including bending, lifting, stooping, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling, raising arms above shoulders and head, standing, working in enclosed areas, climbing stairs or ladders, and operating heavy machinery. The noise level in the work environment can vary but noise is usually low to moderate.

You may be required to wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety gloves, hearing protection, a respirator or dust mask, protective footwear and protective clothing or uniforms. Work may be performed in cold and/or hot temperatures and the environment can be dusty. Physical requirements further include the ability to engage in productive and collaborative communication with co-workers and work may need to be performed during non-standard hours, including nights and weekends. The ability to work overtime will be required.

The ability to perform these requirements is necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The company engages in an interactive process to review requests for reasonable accommodations that may be needed to allow qualified individuals with disabilities to perform all the essential functions of the position.

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.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O'Lakes, nor its 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.