Production Management Trainee

Position Title: Production Management Trainee - PMT - Canada

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time ​

Grade: [[cust_payGrade]] 

Requisition ID: 31895 

Potatoes, French Fries, and tater tots—you love them, and we make them. In fact, we make 1/3 of the world’s frozen potato products, and if you have eaten fries this week, chances are, they were ours.

At McCain Foods, we understand the vital role that food plays in people's lives and the power it has to bring people, families, businesses, and communities together. Guided by our purpose to bring enjoyment to people's lives through great-tasting food, we are committed to working together with our teams, business, and community partners to bring sustainable growth and positive change—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

As a privately owned family company with over 60 years of experience, a presence in over 160 countries, and a global team of 22,000 people, our values and culture are not just words, they're the heart of everything we do. Join us and be a part of a meaningful and respectful environment.

Students like you are essential to us.  We aim to hire the best and brightest co-op students and interns, with the goal of having you join us as full-time employees upon graduation.  Our ideal student candidate is passionate, collaborative, willing to learn, and takes initiative.

Why join the McCain family?

• You aren’t “just a student” at McCain; you will be treated like any other member of your team
• Work with and learn from passionate leaders
• Our core values – Family, Authentic, Trusted, and Quality – shine through every day in everything we do
• Your experience at McCain is what you make of it – ask questions, network, take advantage of the opportunity to learn from our professionals

Position Summary

The Production Management Trainee (PMT) position provides high-potential, talented university graduates with an opportunity to join the McCain Team and establish a strong foundation in understanding the business. The goal is to develop them into future leaders of McCain Foods. 

PMT trainees will participate in a two-year Manufacturing Management development program. In this program, trainees complete formal, self-guided, and applied learning experiences by partnering with senior, skilled subject matter experts in our manufacturing operations and plant teams. PMT trainees are provided with cross-functional experience from “field to fork” within the product life cycle to learn all aspects of the manufacturing process.

Our next PMT program starts in June 2025

We are hiring for the PMT program at the following McCain US locations:

• New Brunswick, in our Grand Falls and our Florenceville-Bristol plants
• Alberta, in our Coaldale plant  

What You Will Be Working On & What You Will Learn:

• Observe experienced staff and gain knowledge about the processes, procedures, methods, and standards required for performing a supervisory role within each of the program focus areas.
• Complete the structured progression plan and required assignments, including on-the-job training, mentorship, self-guided learning, training courses, and applied learning experiences through rotational assignments within the manufacturing process.
• Organize and lead work teams within assigned focus areas, including scheduling, safety, daily operations, and performance management. Duties include decision-making, leadership, and administrative components of the roles assigned.
• Assuming a front-line supervisory role, complete assignments in each program focus area (i.e., receiving, processing, packaging, quality, etc.).
• Develop talent and conduct on-the-job training with new employees, ensuring they receive proper training.
• Proactively foster and promote employees' safe work habits, ensuring proper safety policies and procedures are followed. Actively participate in health and safety initiatives, leading in the drive towards zero incidents through safety optimization.
• Build experiences and projects to enhance learning and knowledge transfer.

• Follow the job description for the assignment within the rotation (i.e., Supervisor).
• Additional duties/projects as assigned.

What You Need to be Successful:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in engineering, food sciences, business, supply chain management, or other related fields.
• Sound fact-based decision-making and problem-solving abilities with a focus on delivering results.
• Project management discipline and principles are demonstrated in leading successful project initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to provide sound, pragmatic solutions in resolving day-to-day operational challenges with people.
• Understanding of statistical process control and data management.
• Understanding of lean principles and methodologies.
• Adaptability and flexibility.
• Ability to work rotating shifts as required to operate production facilities and meet customer demands.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and lead projects/work teams.
• Communicate relentlessly.
• Strong organizational, written/oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong multi-cultural empathy and ability to work with diverse cultures and levels.
• Ability to earn the respect, acceptance, and trust of peers, subordinates, and superiors.
• Team player who is a champion of change.
• Ability to travel and willingness to be globally mobile.
• Must professionally represent McCain’s mission and values inside and outside the organization by following the McCain Code of Conduct.
• As a member of the facility's leadership team, participation in the continuous improvement process is expected. This includes taking an active role in process improvement initiatives, employee training, and upgrading the current skill base.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual/Multi-lingual Preferred

• Clear understanding of manufacturing business processes in a lean manufacturing environment.
• Working experience leading and training others.
• Experience in process design and productivity improvements.
• Demonstrated experience leading and influencing others.
• Understanding of business and finance acumen.

Location & Travel:

• This role is primarily located in a production environment. Still, it may be required to travel globally, which is contingent on the location of the subject matter expertise of the rotational assignments.
• There is a requirement to work from a McCain office or facility location, and they may travel as business needs require (the organization's mission may sometimes take them to non-standard workplaces).

• May work a standard workweek, but additionally may be required to work evenings and weekends to accommodate deadlines, unplanned requirements, and production shift schedules as requested.

• Must be willing to relocate to other manufacturing operations within the McCain network for future career opportunities. Candidates with demonstrated leadership experience or experience in food and beverage manufacturing may be given preference.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace.  As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. 
 
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
 
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Employee Privacy Policy 

Job Family: Student & Graduates; Manufacturing      
Division: [[division_obj]] 
Department: ​[[department_obj]] ​
Company: McCain Foods (Canada)