Jobs › Land O'Lakes

Senior Technical Services Manager

Land O'Lakes · Spencer, WI · $107,680–$161,520 a year · Full time

Posted Apr 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a process improvement that increased capacity or cut cost at a plant.

What they are checking: Whether they have delivered measurable results, not just ideas.

How would you build relationships with outside vendors to bring in new technology?

What they are checking: Whether they can find and evaluate external partners while keeping control of the project.

Tell me about a time a technical project failed. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they learn from failure and apply those lessons to future work.

What would you do

You'll lead Controls Engineering and Process Engineering. How do you prioritize projects across both teams?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh safety, quality, cost and capacity to focus teams on the right work.

Operations resists a process change because they've always done it a certain way. How do you get buy-in?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead change through data and partnership with plant leaders and operators.

The plant runs 24/5 and off-shift hours may be needed. How do you stay connected to what happens on nights?

What they are checking: Whether they stay engaged with all shifts instead of only seeing day operations.

About the work

The role is about reducing processing variation in cheese and cheese powder. Walk me through how you'd find the biggest source of variation in a cheese make process.

What they are checking: Whether they can use data and process knowledge to find the variation that matters most.

What process control technology have you used to improve consistency in food or dairy processing?

What they are checking: Whether they have real experience applying controls, automation or advanced process control.

What do you know about the key variables in making cheese powder, such as drying and moisture control?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the specific processes at the Spencer facility.

How do you make sure an improvement doesn't create a food safety or environmental risk?

What they are checking: Whether they consider quality, safety and environmental impacts before making changes.

How do you track and report progress on many process improvement projects at once?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage a portfolio of projects and communicate status to leadership.

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The full job description

As published by Land O'Lakes.

Senior Technical Services Manager The Senior Technical Services Manager role will provide industry leading technical services that support the business objectives within the scope of cheese and cheese powder processing for the Spencer, WI Dairy Facility. The primary purpose of this role is to reduce processing variation, drive operational effectiveness and innovation through process control technology improvements, increase cost competitiveness in addition to complying with the highest quality, safety, and environmental regulations and goals. The position requires an expert level of responsibility. Hours : Spencer plant is a 24/5 operation. Off Shift hours may be required as needed. This role will address causes of variation: • Develop and continually improve strategy for addressing specific key process improvements across the Spencer, WI facility. • Assess specific causes of variation to drive consistency, reliability, capacity expansion, cost reduction, and risk mitigation opportunities. This role will utilize industry’s leading resources: • Identify world-class technologies and drive best practices. • Solidify relationships / partnerships with key internal partners and outside vendors. This role will lead/coordinate Controls Engineering and Process Engineering functions: • Manage activity prioritization and all project tracking for process improvements • Manage maintenance of and continuous improvement of plant control systems • Lead efforts to drive cost to serve project creation and completion. • This role will have 4 salaried direct reports This role will align operations capabilities to business objectives: • Identify and prioritize resolution of operational problems. • Coordinate plant technical solutions and associated resources needed. • Assist coordination of project start-ups. • Assist Engineering in plant/project design updates. • Collaborate and partner with R &D on product trials and developments This role will drive asset effectiveness through common standards and training: • Partner with Maintenance manager in developing and implementing electrical and controls training for maintenance techs • Drive implementation and adoption of key controls and technology standards Experience-Education (Required): • Degree major required: BS Engineering or Technical/Science discipline (Mechanical, Industrial, and Chemical) • Required experience: 7+ years’ experience in Food/Dairy Manufacturing including 3 years’ technical experience and production leadership or 10 years of experience in Food /Dairy Manufacturing with 5 years of technical and production leadership in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree • Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint preferred; as well as aptitude to learn specialized programs. Experience-Education (Preferred): • A Master's degree is preferred. • Dairy and/or food manufacturing experience, highly desired • Experience with Controls Systems in Emerson or Rockwell is highly desired • Experience working in a union environment is highly desired • Experience with Microsoft Suite, Power BI and other related software Competencies-Skills (Required): • 10 years’ experience including 5 years’ manufacturing experience and production supervision. Skills required: problem solving; collaboration and team building; comprehension of variation; project management skills; and verbal, written, and presentation communication skills. • Strong problem solving; collaboration and team building, variation, and project management skills; and verbal, written, and presentation communication skills. • Proven leadership, development and coaching skills Competencies-Skills (Preferred): • Dairy and/or food manufacturing experience are preferred. • Six Sigma or Black Belt designation is preferred. Salary Range: $107,680 - $161,520. In most cases, candidates offered employment expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges. About Land O'Lakes, Inc. Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list. We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root. Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices. Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested. If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.

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