Director, Process Improvement Engineering

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 the Director of Process Improvement Engineering, you will provide strategic and technical leadership across multiple facilities to enhance operational performance through advanced engineering principles, continuous improvement, and systems optimization. You will oversee enterprise-wide initiatives in process design, production efficiency, labor utilization, technology integration, and quality improvements. Your responsibilities will include leading multisite engineering teams, standardizing engineering practices, driving cost-saving initiatives, and cultivating a culture of performance, safety, and innovation. This role is critical in aligning engineering efforts with business objectives, ensuring measurable improvements in productivity, yield, and customer satisfaction across the Smithfield manufacturing platform.

What You’ll Do

• Engineering Leadership: Direct the Process Improvement Engineering function across multiple sites. Ensure that the organization has the structure, capability, and technical resources to achieve current and future goals.
• Continuous Improvement Oversight: Drive the deployment of Manufacturing Intelligence (MIQ) and Lean initiatives across all facilities. Champion tools such as 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, and Six Sigma to achieve operational excellence.
• Process Optimization & Cost Savings: Identify and implement scalable improvements to increase throughput, reduce waste, and improve product quality and resource utilization.
• Performance Management: Establish and monitor productivity and performance standards across operations: guide KPI development, gap analysis, and corrective actions to sustain improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with operations, quality, product development, and supply chain to support manufacturing needs and new product introductions.
• Project & Capital Management: Oversee the planning and execution of large-scale engineering and capital projects. Ensure alignment with corporate goals, budget compliance, and timely delivery.
• Talent Development & Culture: Build and lead high-performing engineering teams. Provide coaching and development opportunities while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and employee engagement.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure alignment with regulatory, safety, and quality standards. Sustain processes that meet or exceed corporate and industry benchmarks.
• Leadership: Drives a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching.

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 with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering (Industrial or Mechanical), Manufacturing, or related field and 10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing, engineering, or continuous improvement; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development required.
• Strong background in lean manufacturing, project management, and change leadership.
• Ability to travel up to 50–75%, depending on project and plant support requirements.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out

• Proficient in engineering software tools (AutoCAD), SAP, Microsoft Office Suite, and performance tracking systems (Power BI preferred).
• Demonstrated experience managing large capital projects and optimizing production operations.
• Effective communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.
• Able to work in fast-paced, dynamic environments while remaining respectful, approachable, and team-oriented.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and lifting (up to 50 pounds).
• Work in manufacturing environments with exposure to varying temperatures, mechanical equipment, and noise.
• Some projects may involve navigating uneven terrain during site visits.

Pay Range

The expected pay range for this position is $140,000 - $182,500 annually. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations.