Operations Lead Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Wisconsin
Operations lead roles in Wisconsin span manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare, with employers like Oshkosh Corporation, Kohler, and Epic Systems among those that have historically sponsored skilled foreign workers. Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay are the primary hiring centers. International candidates typically need H-1B or E-3 sponsorship for these positions.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The ideal candidate will alternate days working from either our River Falls facility (it's closer to the Twin Cities metro area than you think! Only 17 miles over the MN/WI border) OR from Arden Hills, MN.
Job Description
Land O’Lakes is expanding its Research and Development group to accelerate the path from insight to enterprise impact. As the agricultural landscape evolves—driven by rapid technological advancements, shifting market demands, sustainability imperatives, and new business segments. The Innovation Portfolio and Digital Operations Lead will play a pivotal role in helping the organization navigate and thrive amid these shifts by modernizing critical innovation pipeline and By WinField United Process (BWUP) and support the expanded efforts that are moving into the process.
The Innovation Portfolio & Digital Operations Lead will be responsible for shaping, strengthening, and scaling how innovation strategy, pipeline design, and digital enablement operate across Research & Development and the Innovation Center. Working alongside the By WinField United Process (BWUP) owner, this role helps evolve innovation strategy and portfolio structure as the business expands into Global development, Seed priorities, and new market initiatives. This role leads the design and implementation of improved innovation pipeline approaches, translating complex strategy into practical, scalable operating models that others can execute. The position also builds critical bench strength and shared knowledge of BWUP, reducing organizational risk while supporting digital transformation and innovation operations.
Responsibilities:
Innovation Strategy & Pipeline Evolution (30%):
- Leads the evolution of innovation strategy and pipeline design to support growth, complexity, and new markets.
- Analyzes complex, multi‑dimensional challenges to identify underlying issues and implement new approaches to portfolio structure, prioritization, and flow.
- Introduces new concepts and frameworks that improve decision quality, clarity, and scalability across the innovation portfolio.
BWUP Enablement, Knowledge Transfer & Governance Sustainability (30%):
- Builds deep working knowledge of BWUP and partners with the process owner to strengthen sustainability, shared ownership, and governance effectiveness.
- Leads pipeline enhancements that enable consistent execution while reducing organizational risk tied to single‑threaded expertise.
- Supports leadership decision‑making through clear governance artifacts, insights, and evaluation of portfolio progress.
Digital Transformation & Innovation Operations Enablement (30%):
- Enables digital transformation efforts that improve innovation execution, visibility, and scalability.
- Partners closely with the Senior Manager, Data & Insights as both collaborator and owner across defined workstreams.
- Translates digital capabilities into repeatable innovation processes and facilitates cross‑functional collaboration to drive adoption and results.
Leadership Expectations (10%):
- Operates with an enterprise mindset and broad business perspective, influencing outcomes without formal authority.
- Demonstrates courage in constructively challenging existing approaches and advocating for improved solutions.
- Holds self and others accountable for progress and results, makes sound decisions in complex environments, and fosters collaboration while creating space for innovation and experimentation.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- 4 years degree or higher in business, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Data Science, or related field - required
- 8 or more years of experience in data analytics, business strategy, product discovery, or innovation roles; including experience in innovation operations, portfolio management, or program execution within R&D, strategy, or digital environments - required
- Digital fluency and curiosity (data, tools, AI‑enabled workflows, portfolio platforms) - required
- Experience working in R&D or scientific environments - preferred
- Previous experience in people management - preferred
SALARY RANGE:
$123,920 - $185,880 (in most cases, candidates offered employment can 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.
INTRODUCTION
The ideal candidate will alternate days working from either our River Falls facility (it's closer to the Twin Cities metro area than you think! Only 17 miles over the MN/WI border) OR from Arden Hills, MN.
Job Description
Land O’Lakes is expanding its Research and Development group to accelerate the path from insight to enterprise impact. As the agricultural landscape evolves—driven by rapid technological advancements, shifting market demands, sustainability imperatives, and new business segments. The Innovation Portfolio and Digital Operations Lead will play a pivotal role in helping the organization navigate and thrive amid these shifts by modernizing critical innovation pipeline and By WinField United Process (BWUP) and support the expanded efforts that are moving into the process.
The Innovation Portfolio & Digital Operations Lead will be responsible for shaping, strengthening, and scaling how innovation strategy, pipeline design, and digital enablement operate across Research & Development and the Innovation Center. Working alongside the By WinField United Process (BWUP) owner, this role helps evolve innovation strategy and portfolio structure as the business expands into Global development, Seed priorities, and new market initiatives. This role leads the design and implementation of improved innovation pipeline approaches, translating complex strategy into practical, scalable operating models that others can execute. The position also builds critical bench strength and shared knowledge of BWUP, reducing organizational risk while supporting digital transformation and innovation operations.
Responsibilities:
Innovation Strategy & Pipeline Evolution (30%):
- Leads the evolution of innovation strategy and pipeline design to support growth, complexity, and new markets.
- Analyzes complex, multi‑dimensional challenges to identify underlying issues and implement new approaches to portfolio structure, prioritization, and flow.
- Introduces new concepts and frameworks that improve decision quality, clarity, and scalability across the innovation portfolio.
BWUP Enablement, Knowledge Transfer & Governance Sustainability (30%):
- Builds deep working knowledge of BWUP and partners with the process owner to strengthen sustainability, shared ownership, and governance effectiveness.
- Leads pipeline enhancements that enable consistent execution while reducing organizational risk tied to single‑threaded expertise.
- Supports leadership decision‑making through clear governance artifacts, insights, and evaluation of portfolio progress.
Digital Transformation & Innovation Operations Enablement (30%):
- Enables digital transformation efforts that improve innovation execution, visibility, and scalability.
- Partners closely with the Senior Manager, Data & Insights as both collaborator and owner across defined workstreams.
- Translates digital capabilities into repeatable innovation processes and facilitates cross‑functional collaboration to drive adoption and results.
Leadership Expectations (10%):
- Operates with an enterprise mindset and broad business perspective, influencing outcomes without formal authority.
- Demonstrates courage in constructively challenging existing approaches and advocating for improved solutions.
- Holds self and others accountable for progress and results, makes sound decisions in complex environments, and fosters collaboration while creating space for innovation and experimentation.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- 4 years degree or higher in business, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Data Science, or related field - required
- 8 or more years of experience in data analytics, business strategy, product discovery, or innovation roles; including experience in innovation operations, portfolio management, or program execution within R&D, strategy, or digital environments - required
- Digital fluency and curiosity (data, tools, AI‑enabled workflows, portfolio platforms) - required
- Experience working in R&D or scientific environments - preferred
- Previous experience in people management - preferred
SALARY RANGE:
$123,920 - $185,880 (in most cases, candidates offered employment can 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.
Operations Lead Job Roles in Wisconsin
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Search Operations Lead Jobs in WisconsinOperations Lead Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for operations leads in Wisconsin?
Several large Wisconsin employers have sponsored foreign workers for operations and management roles. Oshkosh Corporation in Oshkosh, Kohler Co. in Kohler, Kohl's in Menomonee Falls, and Epic Systems in Verona have appeared in Department of Labor LCA filings for operations-related positions. Sponsorship availability varies by business need and hiring cycle, so direct employer outreach and monitoring active job postings is the most reliable approach.
Which visa types are most common for operations lead roles in Wisconsin?
The H-1B is the most common visa category for operations lead positions in Wisconsin, provided the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. Australian citizens may qualify for the E-3 visa, which follows a similar process without a lottery. TN visas are available to Canadian and Mexican nationals in certain management and engineering classifications. L-1A is another pathway for those transferring internally from a foreign affiliate.
Which cities in Wisconsin have the most operations lead sponsorship jobs?
Madison and Milwaukee account for the largest share of operations lead sponsorship activity in Wisconsin. Madison benefits from Epic Systems and a strong healthcare and tech employer base, while Milwaukee's industrial and consumer goods sector, including companies like Harley-Davidson and Rockwell Automation, generates demand for operations professionals. Green Bay and Appleton also see sponsorship activity tied to manufacturing and food processing industries.
How to find operations lead visa sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find operations lead visa sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin, with listings filtered specifically by role and state so you are not sorting through positions that do not offer sponsorship. Wisconsin's sponsorship opportunities tend to concentrate in manufacturing, supply chain, and healthcare operations, so filtering by those industries on Migrate Mate helps narrow results to the most active employers in the state.
Are there any Wisconsin-specific considerations for operations lead visa sponsorship?
Wisconsin's manufacturing and healthcare sectors drive most operations lead hiring, which means prevailing wage determinations under H-1B rules are benchmarked against those industries. The state has a notable university pipeline through UW-Madison and Marquette University, and some employers near those campuses are familiar with sponsoring graduates transitioning from OPT. Operations lead roles that involve significant supervisory or business function components generally support specialty occupation classification more clearly than generalist titles.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored operations lead jobs in Wisconsin?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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