Operations Leadership Trainee

Shearer’s Foods, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Massillon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of salty snacks, cookies, and crackers. Specializing in private label and co-manufacturing, Shearer’s is the largest supplier of private brand salty snacks and second-largest supplier of private brand cookies and crackers. 

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer’s has been awarded the food industry’s highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards. 

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer’s is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community. https://careers.shearers.com/

Operations Leadership Trainee

The ideal candidate will be an emerging college graduate of an Engineering, Supply Chain or other Technical, 4 year degreed program.  They should have the desire and aspiration to become a Manufacturing leader within Shearer’s – ideally a Plant Director, Operations Manager or Functional leader.

Through a defined development program, this position will participate in formal learning as well as on the job experiences to develop into future a future Leader within the Supply Chain organization. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Lead continuous improvement projects aimed at enhancing product quality, safety, and productivity.
• Learning and Development: Actively participate in training programs and workshops to develop technical skills, knowledge of engineering principles, and an understanding of the snack food production industry. Qualify in at least 2 different operator positions in the manufacturing environment.
• Assist in Equipment Maintenance: Support maintenance activities to ensure production equipment operates efficiently and effectively.

• Production Process Support: Collaborate with the engineering team to optimize production processes, reduce downtime, and improve overall efficiency.

• Data Collection & Analysis: Gather and analyze data related to equipment performance, production output, and quality metrics. Use this data to support process improvements.

• Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving: Assist with identifying and troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues in production equipment.

• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate records of maintenance activities, project progress, and technical reports.

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with production, quality control, and other teams to ensure smooth operations and resolve technical issues.

The successful candidate must have :

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related field (recent graduates or soon-to-be graduates are encouraged to apply).

• Strong interest in engineering and manufacturing, with a desire to learn and grow in the field.

• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Basic understanding of mechanical systems, electrical components, and production processes is a plus.

Trainees are expected to begin work post graduation, June 2025 in one of the following Shearer's locations:

• Canton, OH
• Phoenix, AZ
• Burlington, IA
• Fort Worth, TX
• Perham, MN