General Manager

If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub. A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now! THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING: The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As a General Manager at Smithfield, you will lead and oversee all aspects of a business unit site, directly shaping the success of the operation through operational excellence, strategic alignment, and culture effectiveness. You will be the driving force behind producing high-quality products, ensuring profitability, and maintaining a safe, secure, and efficient workplace. In this role, you’ll be at the helm of critical decisions that influence the company’s bottom line. From planning and managing budgets to optimizing resources and streamlining operations, you’ll have the opportunity to make a significant impact. Your expertise will guide how labor, raw materials, yields, and supplies are utilized, all while fostering a culture of teamwork and professional growth among employees. This is your chance to step into a role where your leadership isn’t just valued—it’s essential. With the autonomy to lead, innovate, and deliver results, you’ll play a pivotal part in the ongoing success of the organization while advancing your own career. WHAT YOU’LL DO: The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned. Operational Excellence: You’ll optimize performance and efficiency, using key metrics to implement impactful solutions that drive profitability and ensure operational success. You will drive a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching. Financial & Strategic Oversight: You will take charge of the P&L, driving growth and profitability across all business units, while shaping and managing budgets to align with ambitious strategic goals. Safety, Quality & Community Relations: You’ll champion a safe, sustainable, and quality-driven operation, while building strong, positive relationships with employees and the community to enhance the company’s impact. Process Improvement & Cost Savings: You will evaluate plant efficiencies and drives cost savings by identifying and facilitating process improvement projects using A3 methodology. Acting as a change agent, they lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize manufacturing processes, ensuring product quality, efficiency, and repeatability across multiple facilities. Through these efforts, they ensure sustainable change and troubleshoot operational issues to drive lasting improvements. Leadership & Team Development: You will oversee all shift production operations, directing salaried and hourly production group leaders to ensure smooth and efficient processes, ensuring that teams stay motivated, aligned, and focused on achieving operational goals. You’ll inspire and lead teams to achieve excellence, cultivating a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement at every level. WHAT WE’RE SEEKING: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Agriculture, Animal Science, Business or related field and 10 years’ experience in plant management; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required. 5 years of demonstrated experience in team management/development is required Excel in leading diverse teams, fostering an inclusive environment, and building strong working relationships in dynamic, fast-paced settings. Communicate clearly and concisely, both written and verbally, and possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address challenges effectively. Ability to work nights, weekends, and flexible hours as needed to meet operational demands. Energized by collaboration through travel to meetings and other locations. (10-20% of the time). OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT: Industry & Regulatory Expertise: You have a solid understanding of manufacturing processes, OSHA, USDA, and Food Safety regulations, along with knowledge of the pork industry and meat products. You have demonstrated the ability to identify and implement continuous improvement plans, lean manufacturing initiatives, 5S, and statistical analysis to drive change. Technical & Financial Acumen: You are proficient in SAP, Microsoft Excel, and Word, with a strong grasp of cost accounting and P&L management to drive operational and financial efficiency. PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Provides leadership and guidance to all departments. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and assisting in providing appropriate resolutions. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the specified business unit site, which includes all managers, supervisors, office workers, and production employees. IndSPR-Ops Relocation Package Available Yes EEO Information Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595. At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Our partnership with GUILD supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning and various certificate programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high-potential talent. For those looking to build specialized skills, we offer apprenticeship programs that combine hands-on experience with focused learning. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children. Smithfield’s Education Reimbursement Program provides financial reimbursement to team members who want to further their formal education by obtaining a GED/High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma or by pursuing an academic degree at an accredited college or university that is not a Guild learning partner. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Not finding the right fit? Let us know you're interested in a future opportunity by clicking Get Started below or create an account by clicking 'Sign In' at the top of the page to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest!