Operations Manager - Raw Meat Processing

Company Description

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

Job Description

The Operations Manager – Raw Meat Processing is responsible for leading all raw meat production operations within a USDA‑regulated facility. This role oversees daily cut, grind, blend, stuffing, and raw‑material handling processes across all shifts. The Operations Manager ensures compliance with USDA‑FSIS regulations, HACCP, GMPs, and food safety programs while driving safety, yield performance, throughput, labor efficiency, and continuous improvement. This leader is accountable for process control, workflow optimization, equipment performance, and developing high‑performing teams.

DIRECT REPORTS

• Formulation & Stuffing Supervisors

This is a full-time position operating on a Monday–Thursday schedule, with typical working hours of 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM or 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Candidates must be able to meet this schedule.

Raw Meat Operations Leadership

• Lead all raw processing operations including tempering, grinding, blending, batching, marination, and staging.
• Ensure staffing, scheduling, and line balancing meet daily production requirements.
• Monitor yield performance, throughput, labor utilization, and waste levels.
• Ensure consistent execution of daily production plans and customer order requirements.

USDA, HACCP & Food Safety Compliance

• Ensure 100% compliance with USDA‑FSIS regulations, HACCP plans, GMPs, SSOPs, and humane handling requirements.
• Maintain control over CCPs, monitoring documents, raw‑material traceability, and pre‑op/post‑op results.
• Lead or support USDA interactions, including NRs, food safety findings, and verification activities.
• Partner with QA to investigate deviations, implement corrective actions, and validate process changes.

Process Control & Production Execution

• Own execution of raw meat processing SOPs and standardized work.
• Ensure accuracy in formulations, batch weights, grind sizes, temperatures, and process parameters.
• Drive real‑time corrective action when process or performance issues occur.
• Conduct regular Gemba walks to verify process adherence, yields, and quality.

Equipment, Line Reliability & Maintenance Partnership

• Collaborate with Maintenance to ensure up time for grinders, mixers, stuffers, conveyors, weigh scales, and safety systems.
• Prioritize and communicate mechanical needs and ensure completion of PMs.
• Support troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis on recurring downtime or quality issues.
• Ensure equipment is properly set up, verified, and sanitized before shift start.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Lead yield‑improvement, scrap‑reduction, and throughput‑enhancement initiatives.
• Apply Lean tools such as 5S, SMED, Kaizen, visual management, and root‑cause problem solving.
• Standardize best practices across shifts and conduct audits to ensure sustainment.
• Support plant automation and process‑change initiatives.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Supply Chain for raw‑material availability, specs, and inventory management.
• Work with QA on food safety, sampling plans, micro‑results, and customer requirements.
• Coordinate with Sanitation to ensure hygienic zoning, allergen controls, and environmental monitoring.
• Collaborate with Packaging, Maintenance, and Warehouse to ensure smooth production flow.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Meat Science, Animal Science, Food Science, Engineering, or related field (preferred).
• 3–5 years of raw meat or protein processing experience in a USDA‑regulated facility (strongly preferred).
• Prior leadership experience managing production teams.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of USDA‑FSIS regulations, HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and Listeria control programs.
• Expertise in raw meat cutting, grinding, batching, blending, and raw‑material handling processes.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret operational data and drive results.
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and people‑development skills.
• Proficiency in ERP/MES systems and production reporting tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑risk environment requiring attention to detail.

This is a full-time position operating on a Monday–Thursday schedule, with typical working hours of 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM or 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Candidates must be able to meet this schedule.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or more up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant/office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet/slippery floors. However, the vast amount of work is conducted in a climate-controlled office. Travel may be required.

Additional Information

The salary range for this role is $110,000- $130,000 (Annually).  Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.