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Assistant Plant Manager - Beef Processing - Base Salary to 100k/year - Cortez, CO
Cortez, CO US
Job Description
Assistant Plant Manager - Beef Processing - Base Salary to 100k/year - Cortez, CO
- Our client is seeking a hands-on Assistant Plant Manager to lead client relations and oversee kill floor operations at a USDA-certified beef processing facility in Cortez, Colorado— one of the largest Wagyu operations in the US. This is a modern facility working internally and with the local market to process and sell high end beef throughout the US.
- Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the Assistant Plant Manager will supervise a dedicated crew handling 20 + internal and customer-owned animals per day while actively participating in slaughter, custom cutting to client specifications, packaging, and distribution. This is a floor-based leadership role in a vertically integrated plant that raises and processes its own Wagyu cattle under their own private label as well.
Responsibilities:
- Supervise and actively work alongside a dedicated crew on the kill floor, performing slaughter tasks (stunning, shackling, bleeding, hide removal, evisceration, trimming, carcass wash) to maintain line speed and quality during staffing shortages.
- Oversee custom processing of client-owned animals from drop-off (6: 45am) through cut-to-spec, packaging, and distribution, ensuring every animal meets individual specifications and yield standards.
- Lead, train, mentor, and evaluate kill floor and processing staff; assign tasks, monitor workflow, enforce policies, and foster a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork.
- Conduct pre-operational/operational inspections, monitor HACCP critical control points, SSOP, humane handling, and USDA FSIS regulations; coordinate with on-site inspectors and resolve issues in real-time.
- Support the Plant Manager with production scheduling, process improvements, equipment setup/troubleshooting, sanitation, and cooler temperature/yield monitoring.
- Maintain accurate digital records for production, compliance, animal welfare, and client orders; handle online bookings without customer-facing interaction.
- Enforce OSHA and company safety protocols; investigate incidents, implement corrective actions, and serve as a hands-on role model on the floor
- Drive continuous improvement by identifying bottlenecks, optimizing line speed and minimizing downtime during inspected hours
- Ensure proper segregation of company-owned Wagyu cattle (handled by separate crew) from client animals to maintain brand integrity and traceability.
- Coordinate with packaging and distribution teams to meet client deadlines, verify labeling accuracy, and uphold premium quality standards for one of the largest Wagyu operations in the US.
Qualifications:
- 4+ years’ experience in high-volume beef slaughter operations at a USDA-inspected plant, with 2+ years in a supervisory/lead role on the kill floor.
- Proven expertise in red meat (beef-only) processing, including humane handling, HACCP, SSOP, and FSIS regulations; experience with custom/exempt processing a plus.
- High school diploma or GED; post-secondary education in Animal Science, Meat Science, or Food Safety preferred.
- Strong leadership, communication, training, and conflict-resolution skills; bilingual English/Spanish a significant advantage.
- Physically capable of thriving in a cold, wet, noisy, fast-paced environment— standing for long periods, lifting up to 50 lbs, and performing skilled knife/saw work.
- Demonstrated high-speed production experience (e.G., 20+ animals/day goal) and a strong work ethic
Compensation:
- Base salary in the 85k – 100k/year range
- Bonus potential
- Healthcare stipend
- PTO
- 401k
- Room for growth
- Relocation package possible
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