Beef Fabrication Manager

Position Summary

The Fabrication Manager is responsible for overseeing all operations within the fabrication (cutting, deboning, trimming, and packaging) areas of a beef processing facility. This role ensures that all fabrication activities meet company goals for yield, quality, throughput, labor efficiency, food safety, and regulatory compliance.

The Fabrication Manager provides leadership to supervisors and production teams, drives continuous improvement in operational performance, and ensures that the facility consistently delivers safe, high-quality beef products to customers in both domestic and export markets.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Manage daily fabrication operations, including carcass breakdown, boning, trimming, grinding, packaging, and boxing.

• Ensure production schedules, yield goals, and customer specifications are met in a safe and efficient manner.

• Monitor line performance, throughput, and downtime; take corrective actions to maintain productivity and quality.

• Collaborate with Harvest, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Cold Storage departments to ensure seamless production flow.

Product Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure all fabrication activities comply with USDA/FSIS regulations, HACCP, SSOP, and GMP programs.

• Maintain strict adherence to customer specifications, labeling accuracy, and product quality standards.

• Partner with the QA team to investigate deviations, implement corrective actions, and support audit readiness.

• Ensure consistent monitoring and control of critical limits related to food safety and temperature management.

Yield, Efficiency & Cost Control

• Monitor carcass yields, trim utilization, and packaging efficiency to achieve target performance levels.

• Analyze production data to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement.

• Develop and implement strategies to reduce waste, labor costs, and rework.

• Partner with Finance and Procurement to manage material usage and cost control initiatives.

People Leadership

• Lead, train, and develop fabrication supervisors, team leads, and hourly production employees.

• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork.

• Oversee shift staffing, scheduling, and performance management to align with production goals.

• Promote continuous learning and skill development across the fabrication workforce.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety standards, including safe use of knives, saws, and cutting equipment.

• Conduct regular safety meetings and job safety analyses.

• Promote proactive injury prevention and ergonomics improvement initiatives.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive process improvements using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.

• Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance on process optimization and equipment upgrades.

• Lead or participate in cross-functional projects focused on throughput, quality, and employee engagement.

Reporting & Administration

• Prepare daily and weekly production reports (yields, labor performance, downtime).

• Support budget preparation and monitor departmental performance against targets.

• Maintain accurate records for traceability, product specifications, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Meat Science, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field preferred.

• Equivalent industry experience considered in lieu of degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in beef processing, with at least 5 years in fabrication or cut-floor management.

• Proven success leading large teams in a USDA-inspected beef fabrication environment.

• Strong understanding of beef carcass anatomy, yield optimization, and cut specifications (domestic and export).

• Experience working with automated cutting, deboning, and packaging systems a plus.