Vice President Operations (Beef)

The Vice President of Operations will lead and oversee all aspects of operational performance at multiple large-scale beef manufacturing and processing facilities. This role is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective production, while upholding the highest standards in food safety, animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. The VP of Operations will play a pivotal role in shaping long-term operational strategy, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring the facility remains a leader in quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction within the U.S. beef industry.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Direct all daily operations of the beef processing/manufacturing facility, including slaughter, fabrication, packaging, warehousing, and distribution.

• Ensure adherence to USDA, OSHA, and all relevant federal/state regulations, including food safety (FSIS, HACCP) and worker safety.

• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and performance metrics to optimize efficiency and reduce cost per pound processed.

Strategic Planning & Growth

• Partner with executive leadership to set and deliver on operational strategy, capacity expansion, and capital investment planning.

• Drive innovation in processing technologies, automation, and supply chain optimization.

• Oversee long-term workforce planning, succession planning, and facility modernization efforts.

Food Safety & Quality Assurance

• Champion a strong food safety culture; ensure facility consistently passes USDA and third-party audits.

• Maintain world-class standards for beef quality, product consistency, and traceability.

• Collaborate with QA, R&D, and commercial teams to align operational capabilities with customer and market demands.

Financial & Business Performance

• Manage facility P&L, budgets, and cost structures.

• Identify opportunities for margin expansion through waste reduction, yield improvement, and supply chain efficiency.

• Report on operational KPIs to senior leadership and Board of Directors.

People & Culture

• Lead, mentor, and develop a large, diverse workforce, including operations directors, plant managers, and production supervisors.

• Build a culture focused on safety, integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Partner with HR to maintain strong labor relations and lead collective bargaining negotiations, if applicable.

Sustainability & Animal Welfare

• Ensure ethical handling of livestock in compliance with industry standards and customer expectations.

• Drive facility initiatives to reduce environmental footprint (water usage, energy efficiency, waste management).

• Partner with sustainability teams to meet corporate ESG goals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Food Science, Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred).

• 12+ years of progressively senior leadership experience in food manufacturing/processing; at least 5 years in beef or meat processing operations.

• Proven track record in managing large-scale manufacturing facilities (1,000+ employees preferred).

• In-depth knowledge of USDA, FSIS, HACCP, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements.

• Strong P&L ownership experience and financial acumen.

• Experience in implementing Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.