J-1 Visa Operations Leader Jobs
Operations Leader roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 Trainee or Specialist program category, depending on your experience level. Designated sponsors issue the DS-2019 form and provide the sponsorship framework, while your host employer oversees day-to-day work.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Type:
Regular
People are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in working together, speaking honestly, taking ownership, and creating value in everything we deliver. Our culture is built on collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to growing stronger together. Joining the team means being part of an environment where people support each other and take pride in making a real impact.
At Agropur, organizational growth is driven by the growth of our people.
This is more than a first job — it’s the foundation for a long-term leadership career.
As part of our Future Operations Leader - Leadership Development Program, you'll develop a strong operational mindset, work side by side with experienced leaders, and gain hands‑on exposure to large‑scale manufacturing environments.
Designed specifically for new graduates, this structured 18‑month rotational program provides immersive learning across key operational areas and prepares you to become one of the future leaders within our network.
An environment that supports your development:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) with 7% company contributions
- 3 weeks Paid Time Off
- Paid holidays and 2 floating holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Advancement Opportunities
- Starting salary: $70,000
The challenges that will allow you to grow:
As an Associate in our Future Operations Leader - Leadership Development Program, through structured rotations, mentorship, and leadership coaching, you will gain the technical, operational, and people-management skills needed to lead teams in a high-performance manufacturing environment. You will rotate through several key operational functions including:
- Production & operations
- Maintenance & automation
- Planning & distribution
- Quality & Food safety
- Continuous improvements
During the program, you will:
- Work directly in production environments, supporting process optimization and taking on early team‑coordination responsibilities.
- Follow a personalized development plan supported by mentorship, coaching, and leadership workshops.
- Collaborate with cross functional teams and gain visibility with senior leaders.
- Be considered for a frontline leadership or supervisory role upon successful completion.
You will learn:
- How to build foundational leadership and people‑management skills.
- How manufacturing operations and production processes function from end to end.
- Key principles of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and root cause analysis.
- How supply chain planning, scheduling, and workflow optimization drive operational success.
- How to make data driven decisions using performance metrics and operational insights.
What to bring to grow with us:
- Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s degree in Dairy Manufacturing, Food Science, Production & Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or a related technical or business field
- Internship or relevant project experience in manufacturing, operations, or industrial technology (preferred)
- Demonstrated leadership through internships, campus involvement, or team projects
- Strong communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
- Mobility to relocate for assignments (if required)
- Genuine interest in leading teams in a manufacturing environment
A workplace where learning, growth, and performance go hand in hand.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.
Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec. Agropur uses artificial intelligence technology to assist our recruiters in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.
In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.
Job Type:
Regular
People are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in working together, speaking honestly, taking ownership, and creating value in everything we deliver. Our culture is built on collaboration, accountability, and a shared commitment to growing stronger together. Joining the team means being part of an environment where people support each other and take pride in making a real impact.
At Agropur, organizational growth is driven by the growth of our people.
This is more than a first job — it’s the foundation for a long-term leadership career.
As part of our Future Operations Leader - Leadership Development Program, you'll develop a strong operational mindset, work side by side with experienced leaders, and gain hands‑on exposure to large‑scale manufacturing environments.
Designed specifically for new graduates, this structured 18‑month rotational program provides immersive learning across key operational areas and prepares you to become one of the future leaders within our network.
An environment that supports your development:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short and Long-term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) with 7% company contributions
- 3 weeks Paid Time Off
- Paid holidays and 2 floating holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Advancement Opportunities
- Starting salary: $70,000
The challenges that will allow you to grow:
As an Associate in our Future Operations Leader - Leadership Development Program, through structured rotations, mentorship, and leadership coaching, you will gain the technical, operational, and people-management skills needed to lead teams in a high-performance manufacturing environment. You will rotate through several key operational functions including:
- Production & operations
- Maintenance & automation
- Planning & distribution
- Quality & Food safety
- Continuous improvements
During the program, you will:
- Work directly in production environments, supporting process optimization and taking on early team‑coordination responsibilities.
- Follow a personalized development plan supported by mentorship, coaching, and leadership workshops.
- Collaborate with cross functional teams and gain visibility with senior leaders.
- Be considered for a frontline leadership or supervisory role upon successful completion.
You will learn:
- How to build foundational leadership and people‑management skills.
- How manufacturing operations and production processes function from end to end.
- Key principles of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and root cause analysis.
- How supply chain planning, scheduling, and workflow optimization drive operational success.
- How to make data driven decisions using performance metrics and operational insights.
What to bring to grow with us:
- Bachelor’s degree or Associate’s degree in Dairy Manufacturing, Food Science, Production & Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or a related technical or business field
- Internship or relevant project experience in manufacturing, operations, or industrial technology (preferred)
- Demonstrated leadership through internships, campus involvement, or team projects
- Strong communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
- Mobility to relocate for assignments (if required)
- Genuine interest in leading teams in a manufacturing environment
A workplace where learning, growth, and performance go hand in hand.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.
Agropur welcomes people from all backgrounds and origins. We are proud to be an employer with a diverse community and are committed to providing a respectful and inclusive experience for all employees and applicants. We will work with candidates who request accommodation. Please note that an adequate knowledge of French is required for positions in Quebec. Agropur uses artificial intelligence technology to assist our recruiters in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position.
In this text, the use of the masculine gender to designate persons is intended only to lighten the text.
See all 21+ Operations Leader jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Operations Leader
Align your training plan with operations competencies
Your DS-2019 requires a structured training plan that maps your daily responsibilities to measurable learning objectives. Frame your operations experience around supply chain coordination, process improvement, and team leadership to satisfy designated sponsor requirements.
Distinguish Trainee from Specialist program eligibility
If you have a degree plus one year of operations experience, you qualify as a J-1 Trainee. Professionals with five or more years in operations management without a degree typically qualify under the Specialist category. Confirm your classification before approaching designated sponsors.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-aligned operations roles
Search Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers actively hosting international operations professionals. Filtering by role and sponsorship compatibility saves time compared to applying blindly and discovering too late that a host employer won't support the DS-2019 process.
Verify your host employer's willingness early
Many operations positions involve shift supervision, vendor contracts, or budget authority. Confirm before accepting an offer that your host employer will sign the training plan and cooperate with your designated sponsor's compliance visits and reporting requirements.
Check whether your role triggers the two-year home residency requirement
J-1 Trainees and Specialists funded by a government or international organization, or whose home country lists their occupation as in short supply, may face a two-year home residency requirement after program completion. Review your DS-2019 endorsement and country guidance before committing to a position.
Prepare wage documentation to meet prevailing wage standards
Your host employer must pay the prevailing wage for your operations role and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the applicable wage level before negotiating your offer, so there are no surprises when your designated sponsor reviews the placement.
Operations Leader jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Operations Leader JobsOperations Leader J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits an Operations Leader role?
Most Operations Leader candidates enter under the J-1 Trainee category if they hold a relevant degree and at least one year of work experience, or the Specialist category if they have five or more years of operations experience in lieu of a degree. Current students completing structured programs may qualify as Interns. The specific category determines maximum program length and which designated sponsors can issue your DS-2019.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for an operations position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization such as Cultural Vistas, CIEE, or AIPT. They issue the DS-2019 form, approve your training plan, and monitor program compliance. Your host employer, the company where you perform operations work, is not the sponsor and cannot issue a DS-2019 on its own. These two roles are legally separate.
How can I find U.S. employers willing to host a J-1 operations professional?
Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. employers and roles that align with J-1 sponsorship, so you can identify host companies open to international operations professionals before spending time on applications. Finding a willing host employer is the critical first step, since the designated sponsor can only proceed once a host has agreed to support the training plan and sign the required documentation.
Does an Operations Leader role carry a two-year home residency requirement?
It depends on your funding source and your home country's skills list. If your J-1 program is funded by the U.S. or your home government, or if your home country designates operations management as a skill in short supply, USCIS will likely apply the two-year home residency requirement. This means you must return home for two years before changing to most other U.S. visa statuses. Check your DS-2019 endorsement box carefully.
What does the training plan need to cover for an Operations Leader J-1 placement?
The training plan, required by your designated sponsor, must describe specific operational skills you will learn, weekly learning objectives, the supervision structure, and how the placement advances your career in your home country. For operations roles, this typically includes sections on workflow optimization, cross-functional team coordination, inventory or logistics management, and performance reporting, with clear milestones reviewable by the sponsor throughout the program.
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