Operations Manager - Beef Manufacturing

The Operations Manager oversees all daily production activities within a beef processing facility, ensuring operational excellence in safety, quality, efficiency, and compliance. This role manages multiple functional areas-including fabrication, harvest, packaging, warehousing, and logistics-while driving continuous improvement across processes, equipment, and workforce performance. The Operations Manager plays a key role in meeting customer expectations, controlling costs, and maintaining high standards of food safety and product integrity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day leadership for plant operations, ensuring production targets are met safely, efficiently, and in accordance with quality and regulatory standards.

• Oversee staffing, scheduling, workflow, and performance across processing, packaging, and distribution departments.

• Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, HACCP, SSOP, and all food-safety and animal-welfare requirements.

• Lead and support continuous improvement efforts focused on yield optimization, throughput, labor efficiency, waste reduction, and cost control.

• Maintain strong communication and coordination with quality assurance, maintenance, safety, procurement, and logistics teams.

• Train, mentor, and develop supervisors and frontline personnel to promote a skilled, motivated, and safety-focused workforce.

• Monitor production metrics and implement corrective actions to improve performance and maintain operational stability.

• Ensure safe working conditions through active engagement in safety programs, audits, and incident prevention efforts.

• Participate in budgeting and planning processes, including labor forecasting, capital needs, and process improvements.

• Build strong relationships with internal partners, customers, and regulatory agencies to support business goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business, Animal Science, Meat Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• 5-8+ years of operations or production management experience in the meat or protein processing industry, preferably beef.

• Strong understanding of USDA regulations, HACCP systems, GMPs, and food safety requirements.

• Demonstrated leadership ability with experience managing large teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret production data and drive performance improvements.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Proficient in production planning systems, ERP platforms, and standard business software.

• Proven ability to manage budgets, control costs, and execute operational strategies.