Food & Beverage OPT Jobs in Indiana
F-1 OPT food and beverage jobs in Indiana put you within reach of major employers like Eli Lilly's cafeteria operations, Tyson Foods processing facilities, and the growing craft beverage scene centered in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Indiana's food manufacturing sector ranks among the Midwest's largest, creating consistent demand for OPT-eligible graduates in quality assurance, food science, and supply chain roles.
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INTRODUCTION
The Continuous Improvement Manager will provide a full range of productivity services to Operations and direct cost reduction programs for the facility including leading lean events, implementing Kraft Heinz Management System (KHMS) throughout the facility, developing and measuring facility systems and developing and delivering continuous improvement training programs for the facility. Direction in disciplines of best business practices including, but not limited to, yield improvement, manpower utilization, overhead spend, capital utilization, indirect spend, plant utilization and efficiency, working capital both raw material and finished goods. This role will act as a coach for the KHMS as well as leading the Site Steering Committee helping to implement KHMS. This person will work closely with the KHMS Task Force to drive greater utilization of processes and procedures and higher proficiency on the changes impacting employees in the organization such that business results are achieved. This person will provide direct support and coaching to front line managers, supervisors and team leaders as they help their direct reports understand and adopt KHMS.
Key Responsibilities of the Role
- Continuous Development of the productivity decks
- Generate cost reduction opportunities and implement process improvement to reduce manufacturing costs
- Coordinate major initiatives across Supply Chain to insure optimum cost. This coordination will include, but not be limited to, purchasing, distribution, manufacturing, research & development, packaging and engineering
- Implement and train MOS & Lean / Six Sigma processes to plant location personnel
- Participate in the QRMP yearly audit and assist in the development of procedures and corrective actions
- Assist with the implementation of the QRMP (Quality Risk Management Process) system and operational standards as outlined in the plant accountability list in order to achieve targeted RCR
- Share and implement best practice initiatives across Supply Chain
- Coordinate the progression of KHMS using TRACC as a tool
- Develop and maintain performance (KPI) visuals
- Ownership of the Priority One system; responsible to ensure all users are trained and that all projects are current
- Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and tracking system (where needed)
- Develop a waste analysis for all lines
- Lead and coordinate 5S initiatives plant-wide
- Develop and manage the department’s operating budget
- Manage and evaluate the Continuous Improvement staff including but not limited to performance management and employee development, etc.
Partner with business leaders on implementation of process improvement (Six Sigma / Lean)
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree is preferred; Preferably in Industrial Engineering or related discipline
- 3-5 years of operations experience in a manufacturing environment is required
- 2+ years CI leading CI projects or transformation projects required
- Black Belt Certification preferred; Green Belt Certification required
- Demonstrated experience overcoming the inevitable problems and obstacles that surface to meet project timelines and cost initiatives
- Creativeness and desire to not to be bound by past solutions and to think outside the box in order to drive productivity throughout the organization
- Ability to communicate and deal with a range of responsibilities is critical while managing multiple tasks
- Working knowledge of enterprise business principles and practices
- Presentation Skills
- Mentoring & coaching skills
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$89,800.00 - $112,200.00
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
- Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
- Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
- Emotional – Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
- Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
LOCATION
Kendallville Plant
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com for assistance.
OPT Food & Beverage Job Roles in Indiana
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Search Food & Beverage Jobs in IndianaFood & Beverage OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Indiana: Frequently Asked Questions
Which food and beverage companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Indiana?
Indiana-based food and beverage employers that have historically filed OPT-compatible roles include Cargill, Tyson Foods, Conagra Brands, and Prairie Farms Dairy, which operate processing and distribution facilities across the state. Smaller craft beverage producers and food tech startups in Indianapolis have also hired OPT students, particularly for product development and quality control positions. Sponsorship willingness varies by company size and hiring season.
Which cities in Indiana have the most food and beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Indianapolis concentrates the highest number of food and beverage OPT opportunities, given its density of corporate offices, food manufacturing plants, and distribution hubs. Fort Wayne and South Bend have active food processing operations tied to regional agricultural supply chains. Columbus and Terre Haute also host mid-sized food manufacturing facilities that occasionally recruit OPT students from Purdue University and Indiana University programs in food science and agricultural engineering.
What types of food and beverage roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that align with STEM-designated degree programs tend to qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extensions, which is a significant advantage in food and beverage hiring. Food science, quality assurance, process engineering, supply chain analytics, and product development positions regularly match OPT-eligible graduates. Roles in sensory science, food safety compliance, and R&D are particularly strong fits for graduates of Purdue University's food science and agricultural programs.
How do I find food and beverage F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Indiana?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students searching for OPT-friendly roles, and filters food and beverage jobs in Indiana by visa type so you can see which employers are open to sponsoring F-1 OPT candidates. Searching Migrate Mate by industry and state saves significant time compared to manually vetting job postings for sponsorship eligibility. Combining Migrate Mate searches with outreach to Purdue's career center can strengthen your pipeline.
Are there any Indiana-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in food and beverage?
Indiana's large agricultural and food processing sector means many OPT roles are tied to manufacturing environments rather than corporate offices, which can affect the nature of the work authorization documentation your employer needs to file. Graduates from Purdue University's food science program have an established recruiting pipeline with several Indiana employers. If your degree qualifies as STEM, pursuing the 24-month STEM OPT extension is worth confirming with your DSO before accepting an offer.