Complex Manager (Poultry)

Role Purpose

The Complex Manager has full operational, financial, and people leadership responsibility for an integrated poultry complex. This role is accountable for delivering safe, high-quality poultry products while optimizing cost, yield, service, animal welfare, and employee safety in compliance with USDA, OSHA, and environmental regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead all functions across the poultry complex, including live production, hatchery, feed mill, processing, further processing, maintenance, logistics, and support services.

• Ensure daily execution of production plans to meet volume, yield, quality, and service targets.

• Drive operational excellence through standard work, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Balance throughput, labor efficiency, animal welfare, and food safety priorities.

Financial & Business Management

• Own the complex P&L, including cost control, capital planning, and productivity improvements.

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets and long-range plans.

• Identify and execute cost-reduction and margin-improvement opportunities without compromising food safety or animal welfare.

• Support capital projects, automation, and equipment upgrades.

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with USDA/FSIS, animal welfare standards, and customer requirements.

• Partner with Quality and Food Safety leadership to maintain robust HACCP, SSOP, and GMP programs.

• Lead readiness for USDA inspections, customer audits, and third-party certifications.

• Promote a strong food safety and quality culture across all functions.

Live Production & Animal Welfare

• Ensure excellence in animal care, welfare, and biosecurity across the live side of the business.

• Oversee performance metrics including livability, feed conversion, condemnations, and flock health.

• Ensure compliance with company and customer animal welfare programs and third-party audits.

People Leadership & Culture

• Build, develop, and retain a strong leadership team across the complex.

• Champion a culture of safety, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure compliance with labor laws, HR policies, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

• Drive talent development, succession planning, and leadership capability building.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and sustainability regulations.

• Lead initiatives to improve workplace safety, reduce injuries, and promote safe work behaviors.

• Oversee environmental controls related to wastewater, emissions, and waste management.

Continuous Improvement & Performance Management

• Establish and track KPIs across safety, quality, cost, delivery, yield, and morale.

• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, or similar operational excellence programs.

• Drive cross-functional problem solving and root cause analysis.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Agriculture, Animal Science, Engineering, or a related field (required)

• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Experience

• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in the poultry industry

• Demonstrated experience managing a poultry complex or large multi-site operation

• Strong background in live production and processing operations

• Proven P&L ownership and capital project leadership

Technical Knowledge

• Deep understanding of poultry processing, live production, and supply chain integration

• Strong knowledge of USDA/FSIS regulations, animal welfare standards, and food safety systems

• Experience with high-volume, high-complexity operations

• Familiarity with automation, yield optimization, and labor efficiency tools