Note: This position is open exclusively to candidates currently enrolled in the Hiring Our Heroes Fellows Program. Applications from individuals not participating in the program will not be considered.
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**SkillBridge Fellowship (26-3) – Team Leader (Production Supervisor)
**Location: Austin, Minnesota - (Please note that while Hormel will consider a fellow’s location preference, an offer extended at the end of the fellowship may be for a different location than where the fellowship was completed.)
**Dates of Program: September 2nd - November 18th
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FELLOWSHIP RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
Hormel may reimburse for reasonable travel expenses incurred when travelling to your internship location and when returning to your home location at the end of your assignment. We will also provide a furnished apartment for the duration of the program in Austin, MN.
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About Hormel Foods — Inspired People. Inspired Food.
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, Skippy®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Wholly®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized on Fast Company’s list of the 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators, received a perfect score of 100 on the 2023–24 Corporate Equality Index and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food. — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.
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POSITION OVERVIEW:
The SkillBridge Production Supervisor Fellowship provides transitioning service members with hands-on, immersive training in food manufacturing operations and frontline leadership. Participants will work alongside experienced Production Team Leaders to develop skills in production execution, people leadership, safety, quality, and continuous improvement. This on-the-floor, experiential role is designed to prepare fellows for a successful transition into full-time Team Leader positions by combining real-world responsibility with structured learning and mentorship in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
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Key Responsibilities
- Participate in a structured SkillBridge Fellowship designed to provide hands-on exposure to the full scope of responsibilities performed by a Production Supervisor (Team Leader) in a food manufacturing environment.
- Learn and apply daily production leadership practices, including shift start-up, work assignments, labor utilization, performance monitoring, and end-of-shift reporting.
- Review, evaluate, and support adherence to established standard operating procedures (SOPs), and food safety requirements to ensure consistent, high-quality production output.
- Assist Production Team Leaders with data collection and analysis related to safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, downtime, and waste reduction to identify performance improvement opportunities.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives by helping document process gaps, recommending corrective actions, and participating in root cause analysis activities.
- Assist with the supervision and coordination of a production workforce of approximately 15–30 hourly employees, gaining experience in employee engagement, team communication, and day-to-day people leadership.
- Observe and practice effective leadership behaviors, including safety leadership, accountability, coaching, conflict resolution, and fostering a positive team culture.
- Gain exposure to workforce planning and execution, including attendance tracking, break coverage, cross-training coordination, and staffing adjustments to meet production demand.
- Learn the fundamentals of food manufacturing safety, quality, and compliance, including GMPs, sanitation standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Partner with cross-functional teams such as Quality, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Supply Chain to support smooth production operations and issue resolution.
- Maintain an active presence on the production floor, spending approximately 80% of the shift in a hands-on, on-your-feet role, observing operations, engaging with employees, and responding to real-time production needs.
- Participate in daily production meetings, shift handoffs, and performance reviews to understand communication flow and operational alignment.
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Position Requirements
- Must be an approved Department of War SkillBridge participant and eligible to participate through Hire Our Heroes (HOH).
- Demonstrated leadership capability with the ability to influence, motivate, and communicate effectively with diverse teams in a fast-paced, operational environment.
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to gather information, assess situations, and support data-driven decision-making.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey expectations, document processes, and collaborate across functional teams.
- Proven initiative and self-motivation, with a willingness to take ownership of learning, seek out responsibilities, and contribute value in a hands-on manufacturing setting.
- Possess a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial mindset, demonstrating adaptability, resilience, and a continuous improvement mentality.
- Comfortable working in a meat manufacturing environment.
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Locations:
Austin, Minnesota, Wichita, Kansas, Atlanta, Georgia
For immediate consideration, apply online at: www.hormelfoods.com/careers
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At Hormel we invite difference and diversity in all aspects. We offer a space of support, understanding, and community. We are committed to the journey! Learn more about our progress here: https://www.hormelfoods.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion/
Hormel Foods provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.
