Rendering Area Manager

Mountaire Farms•Millsboro, DE

About The Position

The Rendering Area Manager oversees rendering operations and manages superintendents, supervisors, and/or hourly associates to ensure safety, quality, regulatory compliance, yield, and productivity. The role drives operational excellence through strategic leadership and cross-functional coordination. The schedule is 6 PM to 4 AM, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekends to cover absences. The manager leads daily production, monitors performance indicators, addresses operational variances, and coaches direct reports. The role also oversees staffing, scheduling, and training; coordinates with other departments; and develops process improvements to increase throughput, reduce waste, and optimize labor and equipment use. The position manages plans for capital improvements, equipment upgrades, and operational changes, coordinating with Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain while tracking budgets, timelines, and deliverables. It promotes workplace safety and ensures compliance with HACCP plans, FDA sanitation requirements, environmental regulations, and applicable company policies.

Requirements

5–7 years of demonstrated supervisory or management experience, including oversight of multiple departments.
Manufacturing management experience if the candidate lacks poultry or rendering experience.
Proven experience with financial analysis in an operations setting, such as Agristats.
Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot operational and mechanical issues.
In-depth knowledge of HACCP principles and FSMA regulations, including sanitation and pre-operational guidelines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate expectations and performance feedback clearly.
Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and alignment across departments and leadership levels.
Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including Maintenance, Human Resources, and Supply Chain.
Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret operational data and drive performance improvements.
Effective project management skills, including prioritizing and executing multiple initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
Experience in poultry and/or rendering operations strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations to meet production goals, yield targets, and quality standards.
Monitor KPIs, analyze variances, and implement corrective actions.
Ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, and company policies.
Conduct performance reviews and coach direct reports to support accountability.
Oversee staffing, scheduling, and training to maintain adequate coverage and develop skills.
Foster cross-departmental collaboration to align goals and address operational shortcomings.
Partner with Human Resources and Safety on employee relations, retention, and compliance issues.
Identify and implement process improvements to increase throughput, reduce waste, and optimize labor and equipment utilization.
Use data analytics and cross-functional collaboration to streamline workflows and reduce operating costs.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean or Six Sigma methodologies.
Develop and manage integrated project plans for capital improvements, equipment upgrades, and operational changes.
Coordinate with Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to align resources.
Track project budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
Promote a proactive safety culture through training, audits, and enforcement of safety protocols.
Ensure adherence to HACCP plans, FDA sanitation requirements, and environmental regulations.
Lead incident investigations and implement preventive measures.