Processing Team Lead

Position Summary:

The Processing Team Lead is responsible for overseeing all aspects of food production operations, including mixing, grinding, smoking/curing, packaging, labeling, and ensuring an exceptional customer experience. This role requires a proactive, independent thinker with a strong background in food safety, quality assurance, and process improvement. The ideal candidate is dependable, detail-oriented, and committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence.

This position works closely with the HACCP Coordinator and Plant Operations Manager to maintain USDA compliance, uphold humane handling standards, and ensure the delivery of high-quality products. The Processing Team Lead fosters collaboration across departments and with external partners, including farmers, haulers, and suppliers.

Essential Job Functions:

• Verify customer fabrication specifications and ensure all trim and portioning requirements are met.
• Oversee carcass breakdown, utilization, and merchandising strategies in collaboration with the Plant Manager.
• Schedule and monitor carcass hang times.
• Lead production operations for value-added products, including heat-treated (shelf-stable and non-shelf-stable) and fully cooked or partially cooked items.
• Maintain inventory levels of cures and spices.
• Understand cooking cycles, smoking schedules, and FSIS Appendices A & B.
• Ensure humane handling and harvest of animals per USDA standards.
• Maintain HACCP documentation and verify compliance with HACCP checks and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as outlined in the HACCP plan.
• Apply Safe Quality Food (SQF) principles and provide departmental training.
• Monitor packaging integrity, labeling accuracy (including barcodes and QR codes), box size, and case count.
• Ensure lot traceability and adherence to quality assurance standards.
• Disassemble, clean, sanitize, and reassemble food processing equipment using USDA-approved chemicals.
• Clean and sanitize floors and surfaces using USDA-approved chemicals.
• Prepare daily efficiency reports and ensure performance targets are met.
• Enforce safety protocols and ensure proper staffing levels.
• Provide exceptional customer service and support operational improvement initiatives.
• Participate in staff/department meetings and facility inspections.
• Report potential issues to management.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support overall operations.

Non-essential Job Functions:

• Troubleshoot minor equipment issues.
• Assist with operational improvement and process optimization.
• Participate in professional development opportunities.
• Support initiatives beyond the harvest floor.

Job Specifications:

      Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• High emotional intelligence and team-building skills.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication with effective resolution skills.
• Demonstrates integrity, reliability, and a strong ethical mindset
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and concentrate on detailed tasks.
• Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to delegate, negotiate, and lead a team effectively.

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Extensive experience in butchering and retail meat cutting.
• Experience in USDA-inspected environments.
• Training in HACCP, GMP, Safety, Lockout/Tagout, and SQF or other Global Food Safety Standards.
• Familiarity with FSIS Appendices A & B.
• Understanding of RTE/Value-Add environments and USDA compliance.

      Physical Abilities:

• Ability to stand for prolonged periods.
• Capable of lifting up to 60 pounds.
• Strong hand-eye coordination in a fast-paced environment.

Working Conditions:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to cold and wet environments and moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment can be loud.

Disclaimers:

This job description encompasses and describes most but not all tasks and responsibilities of the job. The management reserves the right to change the nature of the job and the job description with or without prior warning, as well as to give special consideration to circumstances related to the essential job functions on a case-by-case basis. The management may require the incumbent to perform other duties as assigned.

This job description does not constitute a contract for employment and may be changed at the employer's discretion. PLEASE NOTE: Hiring preference in the following order will be provided to qualified members of the Quapaw Nation followed by spouses and caregivers of Quapaw Nation members and then other federally recognized tribes. The Quapaw Nation requires a designated candidate to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen, criminal background check, and confirmation of professional references.

*The Quapaw Nation will not observe a medical marijuana card for any position deemed safety sensitive in accordance with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act (Unity Bill).