Director Trade & Operations

Tyson Shared Services•Springdale, AR

About The Position

The Director Trade and Operations is responsible for end-to-end performance across international export trade lanes and multi-site operational execution. The role establishes and manages freight forwarding and supply-side services, including air, ocean, consolidations, and related logistics solutions, while providing leadership, coaching, and performance oversight across multiple plant locations. The Director partners across Business Units, Sales, Global Trade & Access, Origination Logistics, and plant leadership to support customer service, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and optimized total delivered cost. The role provides oversight across plant operations, supporting safety, quality, maintenance effectiveness, and process improvement. It develops plant managers and leadership teams, addresses performance issues, and supports onboarding and training. The Director also leads improvements across production, maintenance, safety, food safety, and food quality; partners on destination-country regulatory requirements; supports capital improvements; and oversees special projects and succession planning. Travel is required as necessary, up to 25%. The successful candidate must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Relocation assistance is eligible.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Eight years of relevant experience combining international supply chain shipments, trade lane operations, freight forwarding, and/or export logistics with multi-site manufacturing or operations leadership, plant performance oversight, and continuous improvement.
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.
Strong understanding of international logistics modes, including air, ocean, and consolidations; trade lane performance levers; and customer service operations.
Ability to operate in ambiguity with speed and agility, and exercise strong judgment and decision-making under pressure.
Demonstrated capability in performance management using KPIs, dashboards, and operational review rhythms.
Strong business and financial acumen, including the ability to interpret cost and performance data and translate it into action.
Ability to lead and influence across multiple functions and locations and provide guidance, leadership, and coaching to plant managers and support teams.
Willingness and ability to perform the physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Poultry or manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and oversight across multiple plant locations to ensure efficient operations, safety, quality, maintenance effectiveness, and process improvement.
Motivate, coach, and develop plant managers and leadership teams, including through structured development programs.
Lead problem resolution for daily operations and address underperformance with clear action plans and accountability.
Support onboarding and training of new plant managers and identify development opportunities for plant leadership.
Lead improvements across production, maintenance, safety, food safety, and food quality.
Resolve issues related to incoming and outgoing product quality and operational performance.
Partner with Global Trade & Access to meet regulatory requirements and changes for destination countries.
Contribute to and analyze efficiency reports and support evaluation, approval, and execution of capital improvements for designated facilities, as applicable.
Oversee and manage Business Unit special projects, including cross-functional initiatives tied to service, cost, capability, and performance.
Identify key performers for succession planning and help strengthen the leadership pipeline.
Establish and execute training needs and programs, particularly for plant managers and critical operational leadership roles.
Guide and coach plant managers and support groups, and cover leadership gaps as needed.
Lead and influence across multiple functions and locations, providing guidance and coaching to plant managers and support teams.
Travel as necessary, up to 25%.