Dairy Farmers of America · 19 hours ago
Vice President, Operations
Kansas City, KS
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
15+ years expDairy Farmers of America is seeking a Vice President of Operations to lead and deliver world-class performance and competitive operations strategy for their division. The role involves providing leadership to achieve operational excellence across the customer to factory supply chain and ensuring efficient handling of milk supply requirements.
AgricultureDairyDietary SupplementsFood Processing
Responsibilities
Lead and optimize manufacturing operations to produce and deliver our core products, leveraging DFA’s scale across the USA; drive profitable growth and increase efficiencies in the end-to-end manufacturing footprint
Implement a long-term plan covering people, processes, technology (SAP, automation), metrics, and data
Optimize performance through integrated systems and processes providing timely, role-based information to build knowledge and improve the commercial edge to manufacturing
Implement benchmarking across operations sites and best practice with a global lens
Accelerate competitive advantage by rapidly commercializing new product and implement technologies that will deliver significant step changes in performance and productivity
Work across our supply chain to impact global benchmarks of best-in-class performance surrounding delivered-in full-on time (DIFOT) and logistics costs to serve. Leverage benchmarks to deliver year-over-year improvements in these key business metrics, focusing on exceeding metrics for dairy and/or food and beverage standards
Partner with sales and operations planning and supply chain/IBP lead to ensure scheduling of manufacture at sites and warehouse and supply chain operations are aligned to the tactical and operational plans
Provide leadership to achieve operational excellence and so that employees drive success through continuous improvement and procedural compliance. Ensure operational excellence for all aspects of manufacturing operations and position assets to meet customer demands in market
Review our manufacturing footprint, capital planning process, growth structure; implement cost improvement plans
Drive workplace safety and continuous improvement on metrics to remove risks on safe work environment
Partner with quality to guarantee food safety and effective, efficient quality assurance throughout the full supply chain
Implement world-class manufacturing dairy technology and optimize operating systems to deliver results and be responsive to dynamic supply and demand signals; build dynamic alignment where possible with customers and manufacturing sites
Build and develop a high-performing organization and team with the capabilities needed to deliver manufacturing and supply chain vision and strategy
Grow and develop talent, provide support and direction to the team regarding performance objectives, IDPs and career conversations, managerial courage and empowerment; bring innovate ideas on factory and site leadership to ensure pipeline of talent is built across manufacturing network
Demonstrate key competencies in DFA leadership framework, change management and organizational savvy; display executive maturity and operate cross functionally in a collaborative manner; build high performance cross-functional teams
The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required
Qualification
Required
Undergraduate degree (or equivalent combination of experience and education)
15 or more years of diversified global business experience in the food industry in the areas of food technology, production plant management and operations, procurement and supply chain management
Experience with drying technology, required
Leadership experience in company with best-in-class manufacturing operations and supply chain capabilities
6+ years of management experience that includes leading senior management and a significant and/or multiple areas
Exceptional capability in building operational excellence across manufacturing facilities
Strategic orientation to set vision and make key decisions with confidence
Self-directed leader with the ability to set high standards and deliver results
Thorough understanding and knowledge of manufacturing operations, dairy technologies, project management and supply chain strategies
Broad exposure to change and transformation initiatives, project management, restructuring, and continuous improvement processes
Excellent collaboration, influencing and relationship building skillset
Able to capture and leverage data driven insights
Able lead change and drive a culture of continuous improvement and engagement
Able to manage competing priorities and work in challenging environments
Able to develop and guide strategy, deliver results, and build future leaders
Must be able to read, write and speak English
Travel 50-75% of the time
Preferred
Manufacturing operations leader across global companies in the food industry, preferred dairy industry experience
Certification and/or License - may be required during course of employment
Company
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America is a milk marketing cooperative owned and served by farmers across the nation.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Dairy Farmers of America has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (6)
2023 (1)
2022 (2)
2021 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$45MKey Investors
U.S. Department of Agriculture
2022-09-15Grant· $45M
Leadership Team
Dennis Rodenbaugh
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel Jones
Division Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2025-12-15
Family Features
2025-11-04
Company data provided by crunchbase