Site Operations Leader

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The Hershey Company Stuarts Draft plant is a non-union plant producing a variety of Reese’s products (such as; Pieces, Cups, Take 5, Nutrageous, Sticks, and Fast Break) as well as Whatchamacallit, and Almond Joy & Mounds in a high-speed complex environment. Along with finished products, the Stuarts Draft plant is a Center of Excellence for peanut processing (cleaning, sorting, roasting, pressing, grinding for butter and penuche) as well as chocolate-making.

Posted Date:
Jan 6, 2026

Requisition Number: 125971

Job Location:

Stuarts Draft, VA

The Site Operations Leader reports directly to the Plant Manager, serves as a member of the Plant Leadership Team, and is responsible for providing production leadership in assigned area(s). This role has full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of managing all Business Units in the plant, including but not limited to people safety; food safety; quality; cost; service; people leadership;

and project implementation.

This role is also responsible for daily and long-term plant and company goals by providing proactive, efficient, and reliable leadership for one to three shifts in a seven-day working environment, while effectively collaborating at all organizational levels within and outside of the plant site. Demonstrated success in this role over 3-5 years can provide career advancement opportunities within the Supply Chain, including Plant Manager at other facilities within The Hershey Company’s global network.

The Stuarts Draft Site Operations Leader is directly responsible for up to seven (7) Business Unit Leaders, and indirectly responsible for approximately 1,400 production/operational employees as well as development, management, and delivery of approximately $100M-200M annual budget.

• Responsible for ensuring a culture that places high value on employee safety and food safety. This also includes compliance to OSHA and FDA regulations.
• Independently leads teams and executes projects to eliminate root causes of manufacturing failures.
• Coaches, directs, facilitates, trains, and develops supervisors to work efficiently while supporting the manufacturing mission.
• Effectively work as part of or lead cross-functional teams to deliver against business objectives.
• Oversees the annual budget preparation focused on Production Standards/Throughput, including responsible Business Unit Common Cost budgets by maintaining strong budgetary control of direct, indirect, and unit costs.
• Ability to make department assessments, identify problems, develop solutions, as well as articulate a plan to Plant Manager, peers, and direct reports that yields performance improvements.
• Ensures effective employee relations, measured at least in part through the employee Quarterly pulse survey results specific to the assigned areas of responsibility. This should be accomplished through significant floor time and consistent application of work rules.
• Demonstrates genuine concern for employees’ well-being.
• Coordinates, organizes and delivers communication activities, concerning objectives, results and plans within and between the department and all other plant functions. Makes necessary judgment calls on specific goal alignment to achieve manufacturing excellence.
• Accountable for performance management of salaried staff. Ensures appropriate employment decisions and issue resolution through proper investigation and involvement of key stakeholders.
• Responsible for management, development and/or assessment of training plans that ensure all members of the department are aligned with company, plant, and department objectives. Leads and maintains the team as a world-class organization.
• Supports key Hershey Lean initiatives across up to seven (7) Business Units.
• Responsible for determining appropriate delegation of assignments, ensuring follow up and taking ownership of the delegated assignments.

• Possess a desire to advance and grow career, must be open to relocation across the Hershey network within approximately 3 years
• Commitment to Hershey Leadership Behaviors
• High energy, enthusiastic, positive attitude
• Strong…