Production Manager

About the Division

Perdue’s Emerging Brands & Specialty Meats division leverages our core strengths in poultry while specializing in premium pork, beef, lamb, and pet nutrition segments with an emphasis on health, sustainability, and convenience. As part of Perdue Farms—a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business—we blend tradition with a forward-thinking mindset. Our culture is built on teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to shared goals. We foster a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact within the company and in the communities we serve.

About the Role

Join our team as a Production Manager - Fresh Pork and lead excellence across Coleman Pork fresh and seasoned fresh pork operations. In this role, you will oversee end-to-end plant operations from animal handling through packaging and shipping, ensuring every step meets Coleman and USDA standards. You’ll partner closely with cross-functional teams to deliver consistent quality, on-time fulfillment, and exceptional customer satisfaction while driving performance in efficiency, yield, and growth across the fresh pork business.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily production from harvest and cut operations, fresh further processed operations, through the shipment of purchase orders.
• Oversee production scheduling and planning to ensure schedules are accurate and timely.
• Communicate with plant production management teams concerning specs, efficiencies, yields, food safety, and other day-to-day issues related to Coleman’s production.
• Manage fresh co-packers’ production and costs to gain yield efficiency.
• Assist and guide production scheduling with co-packers to ensure timely delivery of raw materials.
• Help manage inventory levels of fresh and seasoned fresh pork.
• Manage weekly production, holiday bookings, and production schedules.
• Manage fresh production co-packer relationships and contractual obligations.
• Help manage relationships with key customers of pork products.
• Work with sales to develop and write specs for new products per customer needs.
• Coordinate with the fresh pork team to maximize utilization of fresh pork cuts.
• Work with Coleman Natural pork sales to increase volume, revenue, and margin of fresh and prepared pork products.
• Collaborate with plant operations and Quality Assurance teams to develop, maintain, and update Product Specifications.
• Collect yield data from plants for new products during development and ongoing for pricing and plant performance.
• Manage staff associates with defined and planned Personal Development Goals and end-of-year evaluations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Animal Science, or related field or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of meat operations experience.
• Proven track record demonstrating ability to lead people and get results.
• Ability to organize multiple protocols/projects and complete them on schedule.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• Strong customer orientation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook.
• Ability to handle and communicate with plant floor staff.
• Freight, shipping, and logistics background.
• Strong communication skills and positive customer service delivery.
• Willingness to travel as necessary.
• Based in Sioux City, IA or Sioux Center, IA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Natural meats industrial sales background.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to pack sample product boxes of up to 50 lbs.
• May need to access files, supplies, and equipment.
• Work activity is primarily in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment.
• In a plant environment, exposure primarily consists of wet and moist floors, including metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• May be exposed to temperatures of 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• May handle products from 25 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• May be exposed to noise ranges of 50 db to 110 db.
• May be exposed to all chemicals used in poultry, food, and processing facilities.