Director of Beef Operations

The Director of Beef Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing end-to-end beef production operations across cow-calf, backgrounding, feedlot, and/or processing segments. This position ensures operational excellence, animal health and welfare compliance, supply chain efficiency, cost control, and profitability while maintaining adherence to U.S. regulatory and industry standards.

The Director will drive strategic initiatives aligned with industry best practices, including standards set by organizations such as National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and regulatory frameworks from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute operational strategy across all beef production segments.

• Align production goals with company financial targets and market demand.

• Monitor industry trends, including cattle markets, feed costs, sustainability practices, and regulatory changes.

• Lead capital investment planning (facilities, equipment, land, technology).

Operational Management

• Oversee cow-calf, stocker/backgrounding, feedlot, and/or packing operations.

• Optimize herd productivity (reproductive performance, weight gain, feed conversion).

• Implement and monitor performance KPIs (ADG, mortality rates, cost per pound of gain, carcass yield).

• Ensure operational efficiency in feed procurement, grazing management, and logistics.

• Supervise multi-site managers and regional operations teams.

Animal Health & Welfare

• Ensure compliance with USDA regulations and food safety standards.

• Implement biosecurity, herd health, and vaccination programs in collaboration with veterinary partners.

• Maintain adherence to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) standards.

• Promote humane handling practices and continuous welfare improvement.

Financial Oversight

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets.

• Control cost of production, feed efficiency, and margin optimization.

• Conduct financial forecasting and scenario modeling based on cattle futures and commodity markets.

• Identify risk management strategies including hedging and contracting.

Compliance & Sustainability

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local agricultural regulations.

• Oversee environmental stewardship initiatives (water usage, manure management, emissions reduction).

• Support sustainability certifications and reporting initiatives.

• Maintain OSHA safety compliance across facilities.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing operations teams.

• Build a safety-first, performance-driven culture.

• Lead cross-functional collaboration with procurement, sales, finance, and supply chain teams.

• Support training and workforce development programs.