Managing Director, Engineering

Smithfield Foods • Smithfield, VA

22h

About The Position

As the Managing Director of Engineering, you play a key role in directing the engineering organization to deliver high-value, innovative solutions that support the company’s mission and growth objectives. You will help shape and communicate the strategic vision for engineering and technical operations, ensuring best-in-class execution and continuous improvement. You’ll leverage your expertise in capital planning and detailed process knowledge to oversee vendors, contractors, and engineering service providers, ensuring we deliver the highest value and stay ahead of the competition by driving profitability and operational excellence through effective planning and execution. You will foster a culture of safety, empowerment, and recognition, building a high-performing, diverse engineering leadership team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering, Business or related field and 10+ years of progressive engineering management experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development.
• Senior-level experience in protein manufacturing.
• Proven record in strategic planning and organizational leadership.
• Experience leading multiple, complex, major capital investments, required.
• Strong business acumen and ability to influence at the executive level.
• Strong written, verbal communication and presentation skills; ability to present and discuss strategies in a manner that establishes rapport and persuades various audiences.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable, and collaborative while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with syndicated data, Microsoft Office Suite, and SAP.
• Experience developing and implementing capital project management methodology in a multi-plant environment.
• Ability to prioritize projects and produce high quality and quantity output that adds value to the company.
• Self-motivated with strong sense of accountability, initiative, and the ability to work collaboratively to attain results that meet business needs.
• High level of written and oral communication skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability.

Nice To Haves

• MBA and Registration as a Professional Engineer, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with corporate goals.
• Oversee product development, technology innovation, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement long-term plans to improve productivity and meet customer and quality standards.
• Perform competitive analyses, leveraging data to inform engineering strategy.
• Capital Project & Engineering Oversight: Ensure successful execution of capital projects by managing processes and maintaining compliance with standards and regulations.
• Oversee capital programs at manufacturing facilities, improving cost, quality, service, and safety.
• Develop and implement project management standards to align with company and regulatory requirements.
• Manage capital project budgets and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Support the development of capital plans and ensure proper project preparation and execution.
• Team & People Management: Build and maintain a high-performing engineering leadership team.
• Lead, develop, and inspire teams in Maintenance, Capital Project Management, Infrastructure, and Engineering Services.
• Drive positive employee experience through leadership, development, and coaching.
• Partner with Human Resources to implement leadership development programs and enhance performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with marketing, sales, and operations to deliver integrated business solutions.
• Facilitate collaboration across the company to deliver the best products to customers and consumers.
• Represent engineering in executive forums and board-level discussions.
• Innovation & Technology: Identify and evaluate new technologies and processes to improve manufacturing and distribution.
• Partner with other functional areas to quickly bring viable products to market.
• Safety & Compliance: Promote food and safety programs to ensure safe project execution.
• Ensure capital projects meet safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers.
• Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more.
• Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential.
• Our partnership with GUILD supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning and various certificate programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high-potential talent.
• For those looking to build specialized skills, we offer apprenticeship programs that combine hands-on experience with focused learning.
• We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.
• Smithfield’s Education Reimbursement Program provides financial reimbursement to team members who want to further their formal education by obtaining a GED/High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma or by pursuing an academic degree at an accredited college or university that is not a Guild learning partner.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive