Ground Beef Operations Manager – Ground Beef is to lead the Ground beef team (both direct and indirect) and be the key driver in the planning and successful execution of the growth strategy and execution of plan within the Business unit. This role will Focus on end-to-end activities of the Ground Beef operations ranging from strategic projects to transactional oversight. Heavily involved in defining product strategy, financial performance, and new business development opportunities for the business unit. This role will spend a lot of time analyzing customer orders, market forecasts, and trend analysis to determine operations and inventory needs. This individual will set the direction for creating production schedules. The role will monitor and adjust master schedules based on trends and performances.

Reports to: VP of Operations

Direct Reports:

• Ground Beef Supervisors
• Production Scheduler

Responsibility:

• Understand customers, competitors, markets, supply/demand, costs, pricing, etc., to assist in managing P&L and developing the strategic plan for our Ground Beef business unit
• Develop, implement, and refine the strategic plan for the continued profitable development of the product group, incorporating product line extensions, new business opportunities, and capital investments related to the Ground Beef business unit.
• Partner with all stakeholders to determine profit improvements through increases in gross margin attainment
• Develop as subject matter expert for the Ground Beef business unit for key product group pillars, including strategy, financial performance, business case development, optimization of product mix, assets, cost optimization, market insights, and price setting
• Maintain and enhance the reputation of our Ground Beef products among its customers.
• Provide weekly/monthly reporting of product group, including metrics for financial performance, sales attainment, cost analysis, service levels, inventory levels, and action plans
• Work closely with Sales and stakeholders to plan production schedules
• Direct and oversee the management of production schedules to meet order fill rates and on-time delivery metrics based on sales forecasts, customer demands, and production lead times
• Optimize inventory levels and working capital while supporting targeted customer service levels.
• Lead the logistics planning and contracting of raw materials and finished products.
• Schedule and direct production planning meetings, track operational performance to schedules and coordinate necessary adjustments.
• Coordinate production requirements with Procurement and Operations to ensure adequate inventory of raw materials, packaging, and ingredient components.
• Lead the Operations team to meet set KPIs
• Performing other related duties as required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Degrees in business, economics, finance, animal science, or agriculture preferred
• 6 years of Beef or other Protein production industry experience with a demonstrated track record of success with business development, customer engagement, and people development

Highly desired:

• Prior Ground Beef experience
• Bilingual

Communication skills:

• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence. 
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from customers, business partners, U.S.D.A., supervisors, and employees.
• Bilingual in Spanish, Burmese, and French preferred but not required.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a wide variety of technical instructions in a mathematical, diagram, written, and/or verbal form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 
• Ability to mine, analyze, prepare and present food safety data.
• Able to demonstrate proficiency in software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Prestige. 

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to move about the facility. The employee is required to sit; use hands to finger; handle or feel/hold objects; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; speak; hear taste, and smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. This job's specific vision abilities include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Be able to speak on the phone and make field visits to industrial areas when necessary.

Work Environment:

• The work environment is a combination of corporate and manufacturing. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to hot, and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles. 

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following:

* Benefits: Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begins the first day of the month after 30 days of employment. 

* Paid Time Off vacation and company-observed holidays.

* 401(k): Company match starts after the first year of service and follows the Company vesting schedule.

* Competitive Base Salary

* Employee Meat purchase discounts

* Education Reimbursement for you

* Free tuition for your dependents

* Growth opportunities into different roles and functions

* Childcare Assistance 

* This position is eligible to participate in the Company's annual discretionary bonus plan; the bonus amount varies based on your individual and GOP's performance. You must be employed at GOP when the bonus is awarded. 

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled