Vice President, Meat Operations

TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT, MEAT OPERATIONS

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• $150,000–$170,000 base salary.
• Bonus opportunity
• Company-paid medical coverage for employee and dependents.
• Dental, vision, accident, and voluntary life insurance options.
• Company vehicle provided.
• Relocation Assistance

SUMMARY

The Vice President, Meat Operations is the company’s senior leader for its entire meat business, overseeing strategy, operations, merchandising, procurement, talent development, and financial performance across a multi-unit grocery organization. This role combines executive leadership with a strong field presence, including direct oversight of select store meat departments. The ideal candidate is an accomplished independent or regional grocery meat executive with deep knowledge of fresh meat operations, strong commercial instincts, and a proven ability to drive sales, margins, quality, and team performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead overall strategy, performance, and profitability of the company’s meat business across dozens of grocery locations.
• Establish department standards, operating procedures, merchandising strategies, and performance expectations.
• Provide leadership and support to Store Managers, Meat Managers, department teams throughout the organization.
• Maintain direct oversight of 5+ stores to ensure strong execution and stay connected to customers and field operations.
• Develop vendor relationships and oversee purchasing to optimize product quality, availability, pricing, and margins.
• Drive assortment, pricing, merchandising, private-label, and promotional strategies based on market and customer trends.
• Monitor sales, margins, shrink, inventory, labor, and other key financial metrics to improve overall department profitability.
• Recruit, coach, and develop key team leaders.
• Ensure consistent execution of meat cutting, preparation, packaging, presentation, sanitation, food safety, and quality standards.
• Regularly visit stores to evaluate operations and compliance.
• Analyze competitors and market trends to identify opportunities.
• Partner with leadership on company-wide initiatives affecting meat and perishable operations.
• Resolve operational and customer issues, as necessary.
• Regular travel and occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of experience in grocery meat operations
• 5+ years leading a company-wide or multi-unit meat operation covering multiple units.
• Previous, comparable leadership role in meat department.
• Strong hands-on expertise in fresh, in-store meat cutting and processing.
• Deep understanding of grocery meat merchandising, procurement, pricing, inventory, perishables, category management.
• Past success improving sales, margins, profitability, and operational execution.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, sanitation, quality assurance, and workplace safety requirements.
• Proven ability to develop managers and lead geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong financial, analytical, vendor negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Willingness to maintain a significant field presence and travel regularly between locations.
• Ability to work varied schedules, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Certified Meat Cutter credential preferred.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER