Assistant Plant Manager Beef Processing Cortez

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.

• 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.

• 4+ years’ experience in high-volume beef slaughter operations at a USDA-inspected plant, with at least 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

• Base salary in the 85 – 100k/year range
• Bonus potential
• Healthcare stipend
• PTO
• 401k
• Room for growth
• Relocation package possible

$100,000 per year