Michigan Sugar Company, the third largest sugar beet processing company in the United States with a $700 million annual local economic impact and nearly 2,100 employees, is hiring a Director of Agricultural Operations to lead its sugar beet receiving, storage, and handling operations across Michigan. Reporting to the Vice President of Agriculture, this senior leadership role oversees up to 5 million tons of annual sugar beet harvest, manages a team of up to 800 employees, and is accountable for operational and capital budgets of up to $50 million annually — all within a safety-first, values-driven cooperative.
About Michigan Sugar Company — Making Life Sweeter Since 1906
Founded: 1906 — became a grower-owned cooperative in 2002, merged with Monitor Sugar in 2004
Scale: 3rd largest of 8 sugar beet processors in the US — 140,000 acres harvested annually in Michigan
Production: Approximately 1.3 billion pounds of sugar annually — sold under Pioneer and Big Chief brands
Workforce: ~1,000 year-round employees + 1,100 seasonal workers across multiple Michigan facilities
Impact: #1 employer in Huron County | $700M+ annual local economic impact | $90M+ annual payroll
Why Join Michigan Sugar as Director of Agricultural Operations?
Senior Executive Role: Report directly to the VP of Agriculture — one of the key senior leaders in the Ag Department
High-Impact Scope: Oversee $225M+ in raw material, $50M annual budget, and up to 800 employees during harvest
Safety-Led Culture: Lead a values-driven organisation built on Safety, Excellence, Integrity, Pride, Compassion, and Trust
Career & Community: Shape the future of one of Michigan’s most important agricultural and economic institutions
Position Overview
The Director of Agricultural Operations at Michigan Sugar Company is directly responsible for sugar beet receiving, storage, and handling operations — overseeing up to 5 million tons of annual harvest across multiple piling stations and storage facilities in Michigan. This senior leadership role manages 4 to 6 direct reports, site leaders, technical professionals, and up to 800 employees during full-scale harvest. Accountable for operational and capital budgets of up to $50 million annually and the protection of over $225 million in raw material inventory, the Director also leads safety, technology integration, continuous improvement, and strategic planning for agricultural operations while aligning closely with factory, maintenance, and broader agricultural leadership.
Why This Role Matters: As Director of Agricultural Operations at Michigan Sugar Company, you are the operational backbone of one of America’s most essential sugar cooperatives. The 5 million tons of sugar beets you receive and protect annually ultimately become 1.3 billion pounds of sugar that feeds families and businesses across the United States. Your safety leadership, team development, and operational excellence directly protect the livelihoods of nearly 900 grower-owners and 2,100 Michigan employees — while shaping the future of a cooperative that has been Making Life Sweeter since 1906.
Key Responsibilities
Safety Leadership & Compliance
- Establish and reinforce safety as the highest priority across all agricultural operations — including receiving sites, storage locations, and outstations throughout Michigan
- Ensure full compliance with all regulatory and company safety requirements for employees, contractors, and visitors across every agricultural facility and operation
- Actively engage in safety observations, hazard identification, and incident investigations — driving continuous safety improvement across the entire agricultural operations function
- Ensure safe operation and maintenance of all equipment used in beet receiving, storage, and handling at multiple Michigan piling stations
People Leadership & Workforce Development
- Lead, coach, and develop 4 to 6 direct salaried reports who collectively manage up to 800 employees during full-scale harvest season
- Build leadership capability, accountability, and succession strength within the agricultural operations function through structured development and mentoring
- Establish clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and create genuine development opportunities for direct reports and broader team members
- Foster a culture of respect, teamwork, and shared ownership of operational results across all agricultural operations sites
Operational Leadership — Receiving, Storage & Asset Management
- Lead planning and execution of beet receiving operations — delivering over 5 million tons of sugar beets annually across Michigan piling stations safely and efficiently
- Ensure effective storage practices that preserve raw material quality and minimise loss across all storage facilities — overseeing inventory exceeding $250 million in value
- Manage operational, maintenance, and capital project budgets totalling up to $50 million annually — ensuring resources are allocated effectively and costs managed responsibly
- Coordinate third-party staffing contractors and resources to support peak delivery operations and ensure continuous operation during critical harvest periods
- Ensure all piling stations, storage, and reloading operations comply with applicable environmental regulations across all Michigan facilities
Technology, Continuous Improvement & Strategic Planning
- Evaluate and implement new technologies related to automation, equipment performance, and process efficiency across sugar beet receiving and storage operations
- Drive continuous improvement efforts to enhance safety, operational efficiency, workforce effectiveness, and cost performance throughout agricultural operations
- Support strategic planning and execution for agricultural operations — including capital project budgeting, long-term asset management, and sustainability initiatives
- Work closely with factory, maintenance, and agricultural leadership to align schedules, priorities, and resource needs during harvest and processing campaigns
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Production Management, Engineering, Agriculture, or a related field is preferred — equivalent relevant experience will also be considered
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of experience leading and developing technical or skilled trades teams in an industrial or agricultural operations environment
- Strong technical background including equipment, automation, process systems, and large-scale agricultural or industrial operations management
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop leaders and high-performing teams within complex, multi-site operational environments
Essential Skills & Competencies
- Safety leadership and risk awareness — with a demonstrated track record of building and sustaining safety-first cultures in field operations
- Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills — able to manage operational challenges and communicate effectively with senior leadership
- Strategic thinking and operational planning — ability to manage large-scale operations, budgets, assets, and resources across multiple Michigan locations
- Ethics, integrity, and accountability — demonstrating the values of Safety First, Excellence, Pride, Integrity, Compassion, and Trust in every aspect of leadership
About Michigan Sugar Company
Michigan Sugar Company was founded in 1906 and became a grower-owned cooperative in 2002 before merging with Monitor Sugar in 2004. Headquartered in Bay City, Michigan, the company operates sugar beet processing facilities in Bay City, Caro, Croswell, and Sebewaing. Its nearly 900 grower-owners plant and harvest up to 140,000 acres of sugar beets annually across 17 Michigan counties and Ontario, Canada — producing approximately 1.3 billion pounds of sugar each year sold under the Pioneer and Big Chief brands. Michigan Sugar is the third largest of eight sugar beet processors in the United States, employing approximately 1,000 year-round and 1,100 seasonal workers, with an annual local economic impact of approximately $700 million.
Career Excellence: Join Michigan Sugar Company — where the purpose is Making Life Sweeter and the mission is Creating Growth and Opportunity — and plant your career in an organisation built on Safety First, Excellence, Pride, Integrity, Compassion, and Trust.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior Agricultural Operations Leaders: With 10+ years leading large-scale agricultural, food processing, or industrial operations teams — ready to step into a $50M budget director role
- Agribusiness Operations Directors: With sugar beet, grain, or row crop operations leadership experience and proven team development and safety culture credentials
- Industrial Plant or Site Leaders: With multi-site management, equipment maintenance, and capital project experience seeking an impactful agricultural leadership role in Michigan
- Safety-First Operations Executives: With demonstrated success building zero-harm safety cultures in field-based operations involving skilled trades and seasonal workforces
- Cooperative & Agricultural Industry Leaders: Passionate about grower-owned agribusiness, Michigan agriculture, and contributing to an organisation that genuinely Makes Life Sweeter
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