Production Associate 5 – Warehouse Operations Lead Operator
Smithfield Foods
Production Associate 5 – Warehouse Operations Lead Operator
Smithfield Foods
Produces packaged meats and pork products
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Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now!
Position Summary
The Warehouse Operations Lead is an advanced hourly role responsible for supporting day-to-day operations within the production warehouse, including packaging and manufacturing materials. This position works alongside other hourly associates and provides task coordination to ensure materials are accurately received, stored, issued, and transacted to support production. The role supports inventory accuracy, audit readiness, and compliance and maintains a dotted-line working relationship with the Corporate Buyer for purchasing, inventory, and supplier-related activities.
Our team members receive industry-leading wages and are eligible for great benefits packages:
In addition, we offer opportunities for career growth and professional development.
Key Responsibilities
The Warehouse Operations Lead supports daily production warehouse operations by coordinating tasks related to packaging and manufacturing materials ensuring production lines are supplied accurately and on time. This includes staging, issuing, returning, and organizing materials in alignment with production schedules. This position performs and verifies SAP transactions, including purchase order receipts, inventory movements, material issues, reversals, and adjustments for both manufacturing and packaging materials. Accuracy and timeliness of system transactions are critical expectations of this role. The role maintains oversight of ingredients and inventory of packaging materials, ensuring FIFO, lot control, and proper storage practices are followed. This includes monitoring material flow from receiving through production usage and return.
The Warehouse Operations Lead uses Microsoft Excel and approved tracking tools to maintain inventory logs, shortage trackers, audit documentation, and daily warehouse activity reports. Discrepancies are identified, researched, and escalated to the management team for resolution. The position conducts routine production warehouse audits, including inventory accuracy, location accuracy, FIFO compliance, lot traceability, housekeeping, and documentation reviews for both packaging and manufacturing material areas. Audit findings are documented and followed through to closure.
The Warehouse Operations Lead supports receiving operations by verifying incoming manufacturing and packaging materials against purchase orders, coordinating inspection or QA requirements, ensuring correct labeling and storage, and completing accurate PO receipts in SAP. This role maintains a dotted line working relationship with the Corporate Buyer, supporting purchasing activities, inventory visibility, supplier coordination, and resolution of receiving or material discrepancies. Safety, quality, and compliance are core expectations. The Warehouse Operations Lead models safe behaviors, reinforces PPE and equipment standards, and supports continuous audit readiness for internal, customer, and regulatory inspections.
Required Skills & Experience
Preferred Qualifications
Work Requirements
Role Expectations
This is an advanced hourly role within the production warehouse. The Warehouse Operations Lead is expected to demonstrate a high level of system accuracy, material control, and compliance while supporting packaging and manufacturing materials operations and collaborating with plant leadership and Corporate Buyer.
Physical Demands:
The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals.
Noise level in the work environment is usually loud when in the production area.
Must be able to work in cramped spaces and in poor lighting and ventilation.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance, vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands.
IndSPR-Ops


Relocation Package Available

No

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.
Produces packaged meats and pork products
Smithfield Foods produces and distributes pork and other packaged meats in the United States and around the world. It works by partnering with U.S. farmers to source hogs, processing the meat into a range of brands, and selling to retailers, foodservice, and other customers. The company differentiates itself with a large scale, a broad brand portfolio, and long-standing farming relationships that help ensure steady supply. Its goal is to responsibly meet global demand for quality protein.
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