Value Added Processing Manager

Agri Beef- Real Families, Great People, Exceptional Beef•Toppenish, WA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Value-Added Processing Manager reports to the Plant General Manager and partners with cross-functional plant leadership to provide strategic and operational leadership for all Value-Added and Grind operations. This role has full accountability for safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people leadership within value-added processing, with a strong emphasis on automation, process flow design, and continuous operational modernization. The Manager is responsible for optimizing production through effective use of automated equipment, line balancing, material flow optimization, data-driven decision making, and performance management systems, while ensuring compliance with food safety, regulatory, and union labor requirements. This role plays a key leadership part in new product development, yield optimization, labor efficiency, and cost management while fostering a culture of innovation, engagement, and leadership development.

Requirements

Proven management experience in value-added further processing and grind operations (beef preferred).
Extensive experience with manufacturing automation, production line optimization, and process flow design.
Demonstrated success leading continuous improvement efforts in a high-volume, unionized manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of yields, costing, labor standards, and production KPIs.
Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.
Solid computer skills, including Microsoft Office and manufacturing/reporting systems.
7+ years of progressive experience in value-added further processing and grind operations (beef preferred).
5+ years of experience in a management or senior leadership role within a high-volume, food manufacturing environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Food Science, or related field required.
Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership, direction, and accountability to the Value-Added and Grind supervisory teams for day-to-day operations.
Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of automated processing systems, equipment utilization, and end-to-end process flows to maximize throughput, yields, labor efficiency, and equipment uptime.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on automation integration, waste reduction, yield recovery, labor optimization, and line performance.
Utilize production data, KPIs, and system reporting to identify constraints, bottlenecks, and opportunities for process improvement.
Ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations aligned with company policies, food safety programs, and regulatory requirements.
Serve as the operational champion for automation projects, including equipment selection, commissioning, startup support, and ongoing performance optimization.
Partner with Maintenance and IT teams to improve equipment reliability, PLC utilization, data capture, and system integration.
Lead Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies to improve process capability, cycle time, and cost performance.
Standardize work processes, SOPs, and training to support consistent execution across shifts and teams.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, QA, and customers on the development and commercialization of new value-added products.
Evaluate manufacturing feasibility, equipment capability, yields, labor standards, and automation requirements for new products.
Ensure product specifications accurately reflect production realities and that teams are trained to execute to specification.
Develop and manage the annual operating budget for Value-Added Processing, including labor, packaging, supplies, and overhead.
Monitor expenses, analyze variances, and implement corrective actions to meet financial targets.
Partner with Accounting to establish accurate product costing models that reflect yields, labor standards, automation efficiencies, and compliance costs.
Work closely with Human Resources to support staffing strategies, leadership development, training programs, and employee retention.
Ensure consistent, fair, and objective application of the union CBA.
Build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement through effective coaching and performance management.
Ensure compliance with USDA, regulatory requirements, company policies, and food safety programs.
Partner with QA to ensure food safety, sanitation, and product integrity standards are met or exceeded.
Promote a strong safety culture focused on proactive hazard identification and risk reduction.
Actively support employee engagement initiatives and workforce development efforts.
Build strong, collaborative relationships across Operations, HR, Sales, Marketing, Accounting, Maintenance, and QA.
Serve as a visible leader on the floor, promoting open communication and continuous feedback.