Job Description
Job Overview:
Manufacturing Rotational Leader
Come join the Tillamook Team, one of the fastest-growing dairy brands in the US, where we Play to Win to create over 200 dairy products in 7 different categories: cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, cream cheese and frozen meals. Our Uncompromising Quality has led us to become the #1 Cheddar, #2 Cream Cheese and #3 Family Size Ice Cream brand, but we’re not stopping there. We’re loading up for our best years to come and want you to join us.
As a farmer-owned cooperative since 1909, we know that being Good Stewards for our stakeholders and doing a little extra always pays off. We’re looking for team members with a One Team and Genuine Care mindset who are inspired to share the delight of the Tillamook brand with each other and others every day.
What you will do:
The Manufacturing Rotational Leader is a limited duration, developmental role designed to prepare high-potential talent for future manufacturing leadership positions. Over a period of up to 18 months, the individual will rotate through six core manufacturing departments, gaining hands-on operational leadership experience, building enterprise perspective, and developing the leadership competencies required for leadership roles within Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA).
Each rotation lasts approximately three months and concludes with a formal presentation to site leadership, highlighting operational insights, improvement opportunities, performance trends, and leadership learnings. The role reports directly to the Senior Director of Plant Operations and works closely with department leaders across the plant.
Department Rotations
The role will rotate through the following departments:
Cheese Production
Ice Cream Production
Whey Production
Cheese Packaging
Cold Storage
Traffic
Rotation sequencing may vary based on plant needs, prior experience, and development objectives.
Position will require a varied schedule, including days, afternoons, nights, weekends, and holidays as required by rotation.
Key Responsibilities
Serve in a supervisory capacity across assigned departments, supporting day-to-day operations, shift execution, and frontline team performance aligned with safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, and cost control expectations, including labor and operating supplies.
Lead and coach frontline employees through effective communication, accountability, and engagement, fostering a positive, inclusive, and safety-focused work environment consistent with TCCA values and leadership behaviors.
Partner with department leaders to understand end-to-end production flows, equipment capabilities, interdependencies, and operational priorities across the plant, including coordination with maintenance and operators to troubleshoot equipment and production issues.
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, productivity, labor utilization, waste, and cost; apply data-driven problem solving; and support corrective actions to address performance gaps and operational challenges.
Learn and apply TCCA leadership expectations, labor practices, performance management fundamentals, and foundational financial acumen, including cost drivers related to labor, ingredients, and operating supplies.
Reinforce safe work practices and actively participate in safety reviews, incident investigations, and improvement initiatives to reduce risk and improve workplace safety performance.
Uphold all food safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements, including compliance with USDA, OSDA, and FDA regulations, as well as adherence to SOPs, GMPs, continuous improvement standards, the SQF system, and third-party audit requirements.
Take appropriate action on all food safety and quality issues that are reported or observed, ensuring timely resolution, documentation, and escalation when required.
Identify and support continuous improvement opportunities, including participation in Lean or operational excellence initiatives, while building business acumen related to cost control, labor utilization, production planning, ingredient usage, inventory impacts, and overall operational efficiency.
Prepare and deliver a formal quarterly presentation at the conclusion of each rotation to site leadership that provides an overview of department operations and performance, cost and efficiency considerations, key learnings and leadership observations, identified risks and opportunities with recommendations, and personal leadership development reflections.
Development & Assignment Structure
The role is a temporary developmental assignment of up to 18 months.
Program completion is intended to result in placement into a role; however, role type, level (supervisory or non-supervisory), timing, and location are not guaranteed and depend on business needs.
Performance, engagement, and leadership potential will be evaluated throughout the program.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Required
High school diploma or GED. Bachelor’s degree is preferred; open to candidates actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree with anticipated completion.
Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in manufacturing leadership.
Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
Ability to work across shifts and adapt to varying departmental environments.
Preferred
Previous experience in manufacturing, operations, or frontline supervision. Prior supervisory or team-lead experience in a manufacturing or food production environment.
Working knowledge of safety, quality, and continuous improvement principles.
Experience presenting to leaders or facilitating operational discussions.
Working Conditions
Manufacturing environment with exposure to cold storage, production areas, and packaging operations.
Administration: Individual workspace, desk and computer. May not be temperature controlled, could have loud background noises. May include entering production facility and walking on uneven, slippery surfaces and encountering forklift traffic. Requires sitting majority of shift; can include standing and walking to accomplish tasks. May require stooping, bending and crouching to file, retrieve supplies. Occasional lifting of up to 45 pounds.
Production: Space can be crowded with manufacturing equipment. Must remain aware of forklift traffic. Noisy; some areas can be dusty. May encounter extremes in temperature. Requires standing entire shift, walking on uneven, slippery surfaces, stooping, bending and crouching and climbing ladders. Duties may include repetitive motion of hands and lifting up to 55 pounds.
Industry leading benefit and reward programs:
We offer outstanding benefits to our employees. For more information, please visit the careers page: www.tillamook.com/careers
We are committed to creating a culture of inclusion where all employees are heard, valued and feel a sense of belonging. We rely on different perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds and cultures to inform our work, to help us be better as a brand and as an employer and to fuel our success. We are seeking talent from a wide range of diversity, perspectives, and backgrounds to join our exceptional organization and help us build our future.
Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a Drug-Free Workplace. EEO
TCCA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability status (including those related to pregnancy and childbirth), protected veteran status, membership/non-membership in a labor organization, or any other characteristic protected by law.
