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Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now!
THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:
The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.
The Rendering Optimization Manager is a high-impact role at the center of Smithfield’s operational excellence strategy, responsible for unlocking performance across our rendering, animal feeds, and blood processing lines. This role serves as a key driver of transformation, partnering directly with plant leadership at our largest facilities—and beyond—to identify opportunities, elevate operations, and deliver measurable improvements in yield, efficiency, and reliability.
In this role you will function as a trusted advisor, change leader and provider of data-driven insights. You will also have direct responsibility for developing and monitoring best-in-class operational KPI’s across all facilities. If you are energized by solving tough operational challenges, influencing across teams, and seeing your work translate into real performance gains on the plant floor, this role offers a unique platform to make a visible and lasting impact.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.
Operational Performance & Optimization - You will identify and close performance gaps across rendering, animal feeds, and blood operations, driving improvements in yield, throughput, and cost efficiency. You will develop and monitor KPIs, benchmarking to inform strategic operational decisions and prioritize the highest-value opportunities. Deliver measurable, sustainable improvements that enhance overall business performance.
Continuous Improvement & Process Excellence - Lead high-impact continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies. You will standardize and deploy best-in-class practices across multiple facilities. You’ll drive root cause analysis and implement solutions that eliminate inefficiencies and prevent recurrence.
Execution Excellence & Performance Discipline - Strengthen operational rigor by embedding consistent processes, standards, and accountability within plant teams. You’ll partner with site leadership to ensure strategies translate into effective, day-to-day execution. You will monitor and influence key performance indicators to maintain focus on results and operational consistency.
Strategic Partnership & Enterprise Impact - Serve as a trusted advisor and influencer to operations, engineering, and maintenance leaders. You will drive alignment across stakeholders to execute initiatives that support enterprise performance goals. You’ll extend your impact beyond primary sites by supporting additional locations and scaling successful solutions
WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or a related field and 5+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing or industrial engineering; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership required.
Demonstrated success in lean manufacturing, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and statistical analysis.
Energized by the opportunity to travel up to 80% of the time with overnight stays
OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:
Strong organizational planning and project execution skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel); SAP experience preferred.
Self-motivated with a high degree of accountability and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting (up to 50 pounds).
Work in manufacturing environments with exposure to varying temperatures, mechanical equipment, and noise.
Some projects may involve navigating uneven terrain during site visits.
EEO Information
Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.
Check out this video to learn more about this role!
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related field
- 5+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing or industrial engineering
- 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership
- Demonstrated success in lean manufacturing, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and statistical analysis
- Willingness to travel up to 80% of the time
Smithfield Foods Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Smithfield Foods and has not been reviewed or approved by Smithfield Foods.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support stands out as a strong component of the package, with a 401(k) match repeatedly characterized as competitive. This element is portrayed as a meaningful contributor to overall total rewards beyond base pay.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare offerings are described as comprehensive, including medical, dental, vision, prescription, disability, and life coverage. Insurance quality is often positioned as a notable strength relative to other parts of the employment experience.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Compensation is frequently framed as competitive for the industry, particularly for skilled trades and certain salaried roles. Overtime availability is depicted as a major lever that can materially increase take-home pay in many settings.
Smithfield Foods Insights
What We Do
Headquartered in Smithfield, Va. since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly®" and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others.
