General Manager

Smithfield Foods•Carroll, IA

18d

About The Position

The General Manager leads and oversees all aspects of a Smithfield business unit site, shaping operational performance through operational excellence, strategic alignment, and effective culture. The role is accountable for producing high-quality products, profitability, and maintaining a safe, secure, and efficient workplace. The General Manager plans and manages budgets, optimizes resources, and oversees the use of labor, raw materials, yields, and supplies while fostering teamwork and employee development. The role leads performance improvement and operational decision-making across the site, manages the P&L and budgets in alignment with strategic goals, and champions safety, sustainability, quality, and community relationships. The General Manager oversees all shift production operations and salaried and hourly production group leaders. The position may perform other duties as assigned. The plant environment may include wet or humid conditions, extreme cold and heat, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, chemicals, and moderate to loud noise. The position may require travel to meetings and other locations 10–20% of the time. A relocation package is available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Agriculture, Animal Science, Business, or a related field, and 10 or more years of plant management experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in team management and development.
Ability to lead diverse teams, foster an inclusive environment, and build strong working relationships in dynamic, fast-paced settings.
Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work nights, weekends, and flexible hours as needed to meet operational demands.
Willingness to travel to meetings and other locations 10–20% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of manufacturing processes and OSHA, USDA, and food safety regulations.
Knowledge of the pork industry and meat products.
Ability to identify and implement continuous improvement plans, lean manufacturing initiatives, 5S, and statistical analysis.
Proficiency in SAP, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word.
Knowledge of cost accounting and P&L management.

Responsibilities

Optimize operational performance and efficiency using key metrics and solutions that improve profitability and operational success.
Lead employee development and coaching to support a positive employee experience.
Manage the P&L and drive growth and profitability across business units.
Shape and manage budgets to align with strategic goals.
Champion a safe, sustainable, and quality-driven operation.
Build positive relationships with employees and the community.
Evaluate plant efficiencies and identify and facilitate cost-saving process improvement projects using A3 methodology.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize manufacturing processes and support product quality, efficiency, and repeatability across facilities.
Troubleshoot operational issues and facilitate sustainable operational change.
Oversee all shift production operations and direct salaried and hourly production group leaders.
Motivate and align teams around operational goals and foster accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Perform other duties as assigned.