Operations Technician/Area Supervisor

Company Description

Suterra is the world’s leader in the rapidly growing industry of biopesticides that use pheromones. We are grower-owned and part of The Wonderful Company®, one of the world’s largest private agribusiness and consumer food product companies. Our insect management products use naturally occurring compounds that are non-toxic, leave no harmful residues on food and do not leach into soil or groundwater.  We want you to come help us make the world a better place.

Job Description

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader driven to bring cutting-edge solutions to a rapidly growing industry?

As an Ops Tech/Area Supervisor at Suterra, you'll drive process control and oversee a dynamic team of individuals producing products for sustainable agriculture.  You will gain experience in all aspects of our operation including production area oversight, quality control, engineering support projects, continuous improvement projects, and supply chain logistics.

This position is based in our Bend, Oregon headquarters and requires onsite presence Monday – Friday 5:00 am-3:30 pm. (4 to 5 ten hour days per week). Our production facility is clean, temperature controlled, and involves light duty manufacturing on a variety of custom equipment.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced and innovative Biotech manufacturing operation in Central Oregon. The Operations Technician position will provide experience in all aspects of the operation including area oversight, quality control, engineering projects, continuous improvement sessions, and supply chain management. After training is completed between these groups, the person is expected to be promoted to an Area Supervisor role.

The Area Supervisor will rotate through different areas of responsibility to facilitate their development. During the rotations, they will work with additional business groups including Purchasing, Sourcing, Engineering, Product Development, and outside vendors.

Regardless of the area assigned, they'll strive for continuous improvement through the implementation of LEAN principles. This person will help facilitate problem-solving sessions with peers and production operators to improve the quality of our product and the production environment.

Responsibilities and Dynamics in the role:

Oversight of an assigned area within the operation, which will change based on the needs of the business and the individual's development. Rotations include

• Production Area Oversight:
• Support the operating team by teaching best practices
• Task operating team members with work based on Forecasts and Orders
• Maintain an accurate inventory of Raw Materials and Finished Goods through the use of our ERP system
• Support special projects such as:
• New equipment commissioning
• Experimental product construction
• Engineering improvement projects
• Ops efficiency improvements
• New technology research and integration
• Equipment Specification
• Supply Chain Ownership:
• Facilitate local and international shipping between business sites and to our customers
• Oversee the supply of raw materials in an organized fashion to a variety of different production areas
• Propose improvements to process and equipment by writing proposals that include ROI calculations
• Lead problem-solving sessions with quality and operations team members
• Use ERP (Dynamics AX) to maintain inventory/shipping/operations records
• Maintain efficient communication with vendors and internal stakeholders
• Support the operating team by teaching best practices
• Task operating team members with work based on Forecasts and Orders
• Maintain an accurate inventory of Raw Materials and Finished Goods through the use of our ERP system
• New equipment commissioning
• Experimental product construction
• Engineering improvement projects
• Ops efficiency improvements
• New technology research and integration
• Equipment Specification
• Facilitate local and international shipping between business sites and to our customers
• Oversee the supply of raw materials in an organized fashion to a variety of different production areas

Qualifications

Beneficial Qualities And Skillsets:

• Proficient in the Microsoft Office suite and highly confident using computers
• Demonstrated experience managing short and long-term projects.
• Strong written and oral communication skills are essential. The ability to communicate professionally in high-pressure situations is critical.
• Enthusiasm for teamwork across multiple functions of the organization.
• Experience in teaching and or educating peers on new processes/equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems while understanding risks to resources and deadlines.
• Mechanical, Electrical, Software proficiencies will be given special consideration.
• Demonstrated experience supervising others. 
• Prior success managing short and long-term projects. 
• Bring a positive approach to new projects or responsibilities, we are here to learn and have fun. 
• Enthusiasm for cross-functional teamwork.  

Pay Range: $28/hr. with structured increases based on work center proficiency and task completion.

Additional Information

• Thriving Wellness Community: Access to top-notch medical coverage comprehensive vision and dental plans, and a 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future and including: 
• 24/7 online physician consultations 
• virtual mental health resources 
• life coaching 
• engaging employee community groups 
• cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements 
• library of on-demand fitness videos 
• Career Advancement Opportunities: Unlock your potential with clear paths for career progression and internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units. 
• Focused Learning and Development: Grow as a leader with our dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department, offering extensive resources like People Manager and leadership training, webinars, and eLearning courses. 
• Empowering Mentorship Program: Connect with colleagues through our company-wide mentorship program to share goals, overcome challenges, and drive your career forward. 
• Continuous Improvement Training: Participate in training that empowers all employees to learn and implement concepts that drive significant, positive change in the workplace. 
• Building a Healthy Society: To date, our co-Founders Lynda and Stewart Resnick, through their foundations and The Wonderful Company, have invested more than $2.5 billion in education, health and wellness, community development, and sustainability initiatives across California’s Central Valley, Fiji, and the world. In 2025, Wonderful ranked as #1 in PEOPLE’s “100 Companies That Care” list and was named one of Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more about our corporate social responsibility efforts, visit csr.wonderful.com.
• Giving Back to the Community: Make a difference with Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice, and join Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities. 
• 24/7 online physician consultations 
• virtual mental health resources 
• life coaching 
• engaging employee community groups 
• cash rewards for healthy habits and fitness reimbursements 
• library of on-demand fitness videos 

Grower-owned by The Wonderful Company, Suterra is part of one of the world’s largest agricultural companies and the global leader in pheromone pest control products. Leveraging over 30 years of experience, Suterra produces hundreds of products used in growing regions across six continents, including over 400,000 acres in California.

Suterra’s state-of-the-art facility in Bend, Oregon integrates all aspects of the business under one roof: research and development, large-scale pheromone synthesis, product engineering, and manufacturing. Suterra’s pest control solutions come in several different forms including proprietary aerosol emitters, sprayable formulations, passive membrane dispensers, and specialized monitoring lures.

The Wonderful Company, a successful, fast-growing privately held $6 billion company with 10,000 employees worldwide. The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California’s Central Valley. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit www.wonderful.com/csr.

To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products, and its core values, please visit wonderful.com, or follow The Wonderful Company on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To learn more about The Wonderful Company’s corporate social responsibility impact, visit csr.wonderful.com.

The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

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