Leadership Development Program – Operations Track
Job Description
Leadership Development Program – Operations Track
Location: Hatfield, PA or Coldwater, MI | Length: 1 Year | Start Date: Summer 2026
What is the Leadership Development Program?
Our Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a one-year experience designed to prepare the next generation of leaders at Clemens Food Group. Through hands-on learning, cross-functional projects, and cohort-based development sessions, you’ll build the leadership, technical, and problem-solving skills needed to step confidently into a full-time role upon completion.
About Operations at Clemens:
At Clemens Food Group, our Operations team is the driving force that transforms ideas into high-quality food on tables across the country. From harvest and value-added processing to packaging and shipping, Operations ensures that we produce safe, high-quality food efficiently and sustainably.
In the Operations Leadership Development Program, you will gain hands-on experience across production functions learning how to lead teams, improve processes, reduce waste, strengthen safety and quality, and deliver meaningful impact every day.
What Makes This Program Different
- Immersive, Hands-On Learning: Gain direct experience leading production teams and working on the floor where every decision impacts safety, quality, and performance.
- Customizable Rotations: While you’ll experience core areas of operations, we tailor your experience to match your interests and strengths, maximizing both learning and impact.
- Collaborative and Solutions-Focused: Work alongside experts across the business to solve real challenges, implement process improvements, and make our operations more efficient, sustainable, and safe.
- Learning Beyond the Floor: Monthly cohort learning sessions, farm and feed mill tours, plant visits, and team engagement activities provide a well-rounded understanding of the business and our culture.
Your Year in Operations
During your one-year experience, you’ll:
- Assist in leading production teams on the floor, engaging in projects that optimize safety, efficiency, and product quality.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance processes, reduce waste, and drive sustainable results.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with departments like Sales, RDC, FSQA, Supply Chain, and Trades to solve problems and improve communication across the business.
- Learn to understand the “why” behind production processes and decision-making.
- Build strong relationships with both your production teams and leadership across the organization
Skills You Will Build
- Expertise in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and process optimization
- Data analysis and problem-solving for operational decision-making
- A deep understanding of end-to-end production operations and efficiency drivers.
Who is Eligible
- Students graduating in December 2025 or May 2026 with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field (Operations Management, Ag Business, Business, Engineering, Food Science, Animal Science, etc.).
- Demonstrated leadership through academics, internships, projects, or campus involvement.
- Relevant experience in operations, manufacturing, or process improvement that highlights teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic food production environment.