The Complex Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, and regulatory compliance of a multi-department beef processing complex including harvest (slaughter), fabrication (cutting/deboning), and associated support functions.

This role requires deep technical expertise in beef harvest and fabrication operations, combined with strong experience in Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA) to ensure the facility meets all regulatory, customer, and internal standards.

The Complex Manager drives production efficiency, food safety, quality performance, employee safety, and financial performance, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership across beef harvest and fabrication operations.

• Manage all production departments including:

  • Harvest / slaughter

  • Fabrication / cutting

  • Rendering interface

  • Packaging and cold chain handling

• Deliver production targets, yield performance, and cost control objectives.

• Optimize line speeds, labor utilization, and equipment efficiency.

• Oversee plant scheduling to meet customer demand and supply chain requirements.

Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA)

• Ensure full compliance with:

  • USDA / regulatory inspection requirements

  • HACCP programs

  • SSOPs and GMPs

  • Customer food safety standards

• Partner closely with the FSQA department to:

  • Maintain robust HACCP systems

  • Manage corrective actions and root cause investigations

  • Prepare for regulatory and customer audits

• Ensure food safety culture is embedded across all operations.

• Lead responses to non-conformances, product holds, and quality incidents.

Harvest Operations Oversight

• Ensure humane handling and regulatory compliance across all slaughter activities.

• Maintain operational control over:

  • Stunning

  • Bleeding

  • Hide removal

  • Evisceration

  • Carcass splitting and inspection readiness

• Monitor carcass quality metrics including:

  • Bruising

  • Contamination

  • Dressing defects

  • Yield performance

Fabrication Operations Oversight

• Drive efficiency in primal and sub-primal cutting operations.

• Optimize fabrication yields and trim management.

• Manage product specifications, labeling, and customer requirements.

• Improve throughput while maintaining strict quality and food safety standards.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain strong working relationships with government inspectors and regulatory bodies.

• Ensure compliance with:

  • HACCP plans

  • Animal welfare regulations

  • Food safety legislation

  • Occupational safety requirements

• Lead internal and external audit readiness.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop a large, multi-department workforce, including production managers, supervisors, and FSQA leaders.

• Build a high-performance leadership team.

• Drive employee engagement, training, and operational accountability.

• Promote a strong safety-first culture.

Continuous Improvement

• Implement Lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives.

• Identify opportunities to improve:

  • Yield

  • Throughput

  • Cost efficiency

  • Product quality

• Use data-driven decision making to drive operational improvements.

Financial Accountability

• Manage complex-level P&L performance.

• Control operating costs including:

  • Labor

  • Utilities

  • Consumables

  • Waste

• Deliver budget targets and operational KPIs.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production throughput and line efficiency

• Fabrication yield performance

• Food safety and quality metrics

• Audit performance and regulatory compliance

• Employee safety metrics (TRIR, incident rates)

• Labor productivity

• Cost per head / cost per pound

• Customer quality scores

Required Qualifications

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

• 10-15+ years of experience in beef processing operations.

• Significant experience in beef harvest and fabrication leadership roles.

• Strong background in FSQA systems and regulatory compliance.

• Proven experience managing large-scale meat processing facilities.

• Deep knowledge of:

  • HACCP

  • USDA or equivalent regulatory frameworks

  • Animal welfare standards

  • Meat fabrication techniques and yields

Required Skills & Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of beef harvest processes

• Expert understanding of beef fabrication operations

• Strong food safety and quality management expertise

• Leadership of large operational teams

• Operational strategy and execution

• Financial acumen and cost control

• Problem solving and root cause analysis

• Change management and continuous improvement

Leadership Competencies

• Operational excellence mindset

• Food safety leadership

• Strong decision-making under pressure

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Accountability and performance management

Working Environment

• Industrial meat processing facility

• Cold production environments

• Requires frequent presence on production floor

• May involve early shifts, extended hours, and weekend operations