Rendering Optimization Manager

Smithfield Foods•Remote, VA, VA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.
Ability to travel up to 80% of the time with overnight stays.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Identify and close performance gaps across rendering, animal feeds, and blood operations, driving improvements in yield, throughput, and cost efficiency.
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.
Lead high-impact continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies.
Standardize and deploy best-in-class practices across multiple facilities.
Drive root cause analysis and implement solutions that eliminate inefficiencies and prevent recurrence.
Strengthen operational rigor by embedding consistent processes, standards, and accountability within plant teams.
Partner with site leadership to ensure strategies translate into effective, day-to-day execution.
Monitor and influence key performance indicators to maintain focus on results and operational consistency.
Serve as a trusted advisor and influencer to operations, engineering, and maintenance leaders.
Drive alignment across stakeholders to execute initiatives that support enterprise performance goals.
Extend your impact beyond primary sites by supporting additional locations and scaling successful solutions.

Benefits

Robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs
Medical plans with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers
Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost
Support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management
Comprehensive training and professional development programs
LinkedIn Learning access on-demand courses, professional certificates, and skill-based training
Tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs
Leadership development initiatives
Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children
Relocation Package Available