Leadership Development Program Overview

Take the next step in your leadership journey.

The Polaris Operations Leadership Development Program (OLDP-Experienced) Experienced Leader Track is designed for high-potential professionals with prior leadership experience who are ready to accelerate their growth into senior operations leadership roles. Through a series of intentional rotational assignments across manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, and enterprise operations, participants gain broad business exposure while leading initiatives that drive operational excellence and business results.

This immersive program provides the opportunity to expand your leadership capabilities, strengthen your operational expertise, and influence key business outcomes across the enterprise. Participants partner with experienced leaders, lead high-impact projects, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the functions that drive world-class operations. The program is designed to prepare participants for future leadership roles with increasing responsibility while building a strong network of relationships across Polaris.

Through challenging assignments and targeted development experiences, you will broaden your perspective, enhance your ability to lead through complexity and change, and contribute directly to Polaris' commitment to safety, quality, delivery, cost performance, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact operational and supply chain initiatives across multiple business functions.
• Drive results through rotational leadership assignments in manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, and enterprise operations.
• Lead teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders to achieve business objectives.
• Apply data-driven problem-solving to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Champion continuous improvement, operational excellence, and change management initiatives.
• Present recommendations and project outcomes to senior leaders.
• Build enterprise-wide business acumen and leadership capability in preparation for future operations leadership roles.

Program Length: 3 Years          

Rotation Length: 1 Year (3 Rotations)

Placement Locations May Include: Greater Twin Cities Metro, MN; Huntsville, AL; Roseau, MN; Battle Ground, WA; Fernley, NV; Wilmington, OH; or Vermillion, SD.

Intentional rotations will provide experience in:

• Core Supply Chain: Gain end‑to‑end exposure to supply chain operations, including materials flow, production and supply planning, sourcing, logistics, and supplier performance, while supporting reliable, cost‑effective manufacturing and distribution.
• Core Operations: Support manufacturing and distribution operations through hands‑on experience in manufacturing engineering, quality, EHS, continuous improvement, or operations leadership, including direct exposure to front‑line supervision.
• Enterprise Operations: Lead an enterprise‑level capstone project focused on optimizing supply chain or operational performance through data analytics, process improvement, cost reduction, and strategic initiatives such as sustainability, automation, sourcing risk, or new product introduction.

Upon completion of the program, you will have the opportunity to transition into an Operations-related leadership position within the business, contingent on business need, the skills and performance you demonstrate during the program.

Program Advantages: As a Polaris employee, you will enjoy specific benefits beyond rotational experiences, including:

• Mentorship: You will be paired with a functional business leader establishing a mentor relationship that will begin in your DP journey and continue throughout your career with Polaris.
• Leadership Development: A blend of structured and self-guided learning opportunities provided throughout the program that are intended to build upon your leadership skills.
• Networking: Intentional time with peers and leaders at Polaris to build your professional network.
• Community Engagement: Opportunity to get involved in your local community and volunteer through Polaris Gives.  
• Rotation Showcases: Present to senior level leaders showcasing your rotational accomplishments and career aspirations

Polaris Benefit Highlights:

• A generous 401K employee contribution matching program.
• Pay for Performance Company which uniquely allows employees to receive Annual Profit-Sharing bonuses based upon the performance of the employee.
• Tuition Reimbursement program to support employees who want to further their education.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing Engineering, or Supply Chain. Advanced degree preferred.
• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) and may not require sponsorship for employment now or in the future.
• Must be willing to travel and relocate between sites for your rotations, as well as be mobile beyond the rotational program to support your career development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software: Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, SharePoint.
• 5 years of leadership experience and/or work experience with the desire to advance your leadership skills.
• Demonstrated business acumen and sound judgment with the ability to analyze information, solve problems, make recommendations, and apply operations best practices to business processes.
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to lead people, projects, navigate ambiguity, build relationships, and influence across organizational levels.
• Foundational operations knowledge gained through prior positions, organizations, leadership experience or related operations projects.

Preferred Qualifications:

• High levels of drive and career aspirations.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) or supply chain management software.
• Exposure to data analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) or programming languages like Python or SQL for operations analysis.
• Understanding of manufacturing automation, IoT, or smart factory technologies.
• Experience working in cross-functional or cross-cultural teams.
• Demonstrated change management or project leadership experience.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship. To be considered for this opportunity, you must apply on our career page.

We hope you're ready for the ultimate adventure!

The starting pay range for Minnesota is $98,000 to $117,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.  While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range. 

To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing.

We are an ambitious, resourceful, and driven workforce, which empowers us to THINK OUTSIDE.Apply today!

At Polaris we put our employees first, by offering a holistic approach to their health and financial wellbeing.  Polaris is proud to offer competitive compensation, including a market-leading profit-sharing plan that is fundamental to our pay-for-performance culture. At Polaris, employees are owners of the company through company contributions to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan and discounted employee stock purchases plan. Employees receive a generous matching contribution to 401(k), financial wellness education and consultation to plan for their financial future. In addition to competitive pay, Polaris provides a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, paid time off, gym & personal training reimbursement, life insurance and disability offerings.  Through the Polaris Foundation and our Polaris Gives paid volunteer time off, we support employees who actively volunteer their time, efforts, and passions to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they live, play and work. Employees at Polaris drive our success and are rewarded for their commitment.