Sausage Maker/Butcher

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Key Responsibilities
Meat Cutting & Processing
• Cut, trim, debone, and prepare beef, pork, poultry, and other meats according to company standards.
• Fabricate primal and subprimal cuts into retail-ready products.
• Prepare steaks, roasts, chops, ribs, ground meats, and specialty cuts.
• Grind meat for retail sales and sausage production.
• Minimize waste through efficient cutting techniques and proper yield management.
• Ensure products meet quality, appearance, and weight specifications.
Sausage Production
• Prepare fresh, smoked, cured, and cooked sausage products.
• Weigh and mix meats, spices, seasonings, and curing ingredients according to standardized recipes.
• Operate grinders, mixers, sausage stuffers, smokehouses, tumblers, and vacuum packaging equipment.
• Stuff natural and synthetic casings.
• Link, tie, hang, smoke, cook, cool, and package sausage products.
• Monitor production processes to ensure product consistency and quality.
• Assist in developing new sausage recipes and seasonal products.
Food Safety & Quality
• Monitor and record product temperatures throughout production and storage.
• Maintain clean, sanitized work areas, tools, and equipment.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Report any food safety or equipment concerns immediately.
Inventory & Production
• Receive, inspect, and properly store incoming meat and ingredient deliveries.
• Rotate inventory using First In, First Out (FIFO) procedures.
• Monitor inventory levels of meat, spices, casings, packaging materials, and supplies.
• Assist with production planning to meet customer demand while minimizing waste.
Equipment Operation
• Safely operate and maintain:
o Band saws
o Meat grinders
o Meat mixers
o Sausage stuffers
o Meat slicers
o Smokehouses
o Vacuum packaging equipment
o Scales and labeling equipment
• Perform routine cleaning and basic maintenance of equipment.
Customer Service
• Assist customers with meat selection and custom cutting requests.
• Provide recommendations on meat preparation, cooking methods, and sausage products.
• Ensure retail displays remain fully stocked, clean, and visually appealing.
General Duties
• Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient work environment.
• Work collaboratively with team members across production and retail departments.
• Assist with other duties as assigned to support daily operations.
• Participate in ongoing training to improve product knowledge and processing techniques.
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Qualifications
• Previous experience as a butcher, meat cutter, sausage maker, or meat processor preferred.
• Strong knowledge of meat fabrication and sausage production techniques.
• Excellent knife skills and safe equipment operation.
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP principles.
• Ability to accurately follow recipes and production specifications.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Reliable, dependable, and able to work independently or as part of a team.
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Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Frequently lift and carry up to 50 lbs and occasionally up to 75 lbs.
• Work comfortably in refrigerated production environments.
• Perform repetitive cutting, lifting, pushing, and pulling tasks.
• Use personal protective equipment, including cut-resistant gloves, aprons, and safety footwear.