Production Supervisor (Meat)

Position Summary

The Production Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily operations within a USDA-inspected meat processing facility. This role ensures production targets are achieved while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, employee safety, and regulatory compliance. The supervisor leads frontline production teams, drives efficiency, and fosters a strong safety and accountability culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate daily production activities within the meat processing department (e.g., slaughter, fabrication, deboning, packaging, or further processing).

• Ensure compliance with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations.

• Enforce HACCP plans, SSOPs, GMPs, and company food safety protocols.

• Lead, coach, and develop production employees, including line leads and hourly staff.

• Monitor production KPIs including yield, throughput, labor efficiency, downtime, and waste.

• Coordinate with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and Sanitation teams to ensure smooth operations.

• Conduct daily start-up meetings and communicate safety, quality, and production expectations.

• Maintain accurate production and compliance documentation.

• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement lean manufacturing initiatives.

• Ensure adherence to OSHA safety standards and promote a strong safety culture.

• Manage employee relations issues in partnership with HR, including attendance, discipline, and performance management.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, or related field preferred.

• 3+ years of supervisory experience in meat processing, poultry processing, or food manufacturing.

• Strong knowledge of USDA regulations and HACCP principles.

Skills & Competencies:

• Proven leadership and team development skills.

• Strong understanding of yields, cut specifications, and meat processing operations.

• Ability to work in cold, wet, and fast-paced production environments.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred in many facilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production reporting systems.