950 Seafood Processing Department Manager-Mid Atlantic-6 figure base salary plus bonus and benefits with relocation assistance available

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Processing Department at our client is a critical step in receiving, processing and packing customer orders. Customer confidence will be achieved by performing these tasks accurately and with quality always in mind. This department and its two shifts are presented with tasks of processing orders and inventory pars / stock for same day or future orders. Most of the orders are fresh, while there is also product processed to freeze. While our client processes volume in some species categories, i.e. salmon, catfish, etc. the food service (restaurant) distribution requires ‘boutique cutting/processing stations” cutting smaller orders (fillets, portions). These boutique stations combined handle many different species, and various sizes of same species each day. While the company has many standard daily species that are processed, the ever-changing supply, variety and demand results in many species processed daily, and changes day to day. This unique, yet necessary, part of the seafood distribution processing business requires a person who must know the product, and who can adapt and change daily as the demands and supply change. Solid communication skills are a must, between the department and your staff. Process, flow, lean skills and experience are also a necessity to have a successful department.  In addition to managing products and people, this position requires the capacity to understand metrics such as labor costs, yield management, and inventory control. Our client does process and package products with sophisticated equipment, thus requiring an understanding and capacity to have experience with and learn about these various machines. 

This position will be responsible for running (currently) two shifts. One is from approx. 10pm to 6am that mainly works to fill the food service business. The second shift runs from approximately 6am to 2 pm that runs higher volume lines and processes pars for the prior shift. The total capacity of staff runs from 60-75 members.

The position also offers an individual opportunity to be creative and build efficiencies, or new product items, that offer more solutions to the customer and add efficiencies and growth to JJ McDonnell.

REGULAR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Processing Room Operations:

Performance & Labor Management

• Develop and manage daily/weekly/monthly KPIs; monitor labor-to-production metrics (e.g., payroll-to-pounds) and investigate variances.

• Track employee hours and manage labor cost targets per pound to maximize labor efficiency across all processing levels.

• Communicate performance metrics and updates to both shifts regularly.

Production Planning & Yield Optimization

• Analyze yield sheet data to improve product yield and identify opportunities for process improvement.

• Use sales and production data to forecast and plan daily, weekly, and seasonal production needs.

• Create SOPs and cost-to-build guides for all product cuts to standardize procedures and improve accuracy.

Equipment & Process Management

• Operate and maintain processing room equipment, including scaling, skinning, filleting, portioning, grinding, and packaging machinery.

• Design and implement process improvements to enhance workflow, productivity, and product quality.

• Ensure timely processing of all orders to support on-time truck departures.

Product Utilization & Communication

• Identify value-added uses for excess or trim products (e.g., grinding, emulsifying).

• Send daily updates to CSR and Account Management teams on available trim and excess product.

Compliance, Inventory & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Enforce company policies and maintain accurate inventory records for all processed products.

• Maintain strong knowledge of JJ McDonnell products and services.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Purchasing, QA/QC, Sales, Admin, Customer Service, Finance, and HR to ensure alignment and operational efficiency.

• Partner with HR to support recruitment and hiring efforts for Processing Room employees.

Other Duties

• Complete assigned projects and take on additional responsibilities as needed.

Team Leadership & Communication

• Foster a positive team environment by embodying and promoting company values.

• Maintain awareness of company strategic plans and updates; communicate relevant information to the department team.

• Conduct daily huddles and shift “hand-offs” to ensure consistent communication across all shifts.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Supervise assigned Processing Room staff to ensure job duties are performed efficiently and effectively.

• Train, coach, and mentor employees consistently to support retention and performance.

• Perform annual personnel evaluations and ensure all employees are aligned with performance expectations.

• Follow and execute a monthly training schedule to support continuous learning and development.

Scheduling & Shift Coverage

• Ensure proper scheduling of all Processing Room employees to meet daily operational needs.

• Monitor and schedule breaks to maintain continuous workflow and avoid gaps in coverage.

• Provide hands-on support or fill in as needed during manpower shortages across any area within the department.

Other Responsibilities

• Ensure staff are maximizing fish yield across all shifts.

• Complete assigned projects as needed.

Safety and Compliance:

• Enforce safety policies and maintain a clean, organized, and sanitized work area.

• Ensure all HACCP/FDA/USDA/BRC procedures are followed and documented.

• Ensure quality checks (QA/QC) are completed before the product leaves the room.

• Correct unsafe conditions and report all incidents per company procedure.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Operations or a related field preferred.

• 8-10 years of progressive experience in seafood processing or related manufacturing.

• Experience with Seasoft or similar ERP software.

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

• Proven problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.

• Documented management and leadership training.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of seafood, storage requirements, and handling regulations.

• 5-7 years of team leadership in a production or processing environment.

• Skilled in drafting communications and analyzing production data using spreadsheets.

• Familiar with processing room equipment, including scales and labelers.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

• Capacity to plan production schedules based on historical and real-time data.

• Must be proficient in English (verbal and written); Spanish a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear for extended periods.

• Frequent use of hands and arms; occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching.

• Ability to lift/move up to 50-100 lbs.

• Requires close and distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and focus adjustment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Primary work performed indoors in a cold room (34-38°F).

• Exposure to wet/humid conditions, temperature fluctuations, airborne particles, and vibration.

TO APPLY-Submit your resume to jim@fishjobs.com and note Job # 850 in the subject line.