Meat Operations Manager

MEAT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Position Overview
The Meat Operations Manager will be responsible for providing operational leadership and support for all Meat Departments across the organization. Supporting all store locations, this role will ensure consistent execution of company standards, food safety requirements, merchandising programs, labour expectations, training initiatives, and customer experience standards.

This position will be part of the Operations Department and report to the Director of Retail Operations. The role will work closely with the Meat Category Manager to ensure category strategies and programs are effectively executed at store level while maintaining clear separation between merchandising and operational responsibilities. This position will be in office 1-2 days a week, with the remaining time spent travelling to/in stores.

The position will require regular travel throughout British Columbia to support stores, conduct audits, provide coaching, lead training initiatives, support new store openings, and ensure consistent execution of operational standards.

• Support and coach Meat Department Managers, Grocery Department Managers and store teams across all locations, including commissary.
• Ensure consistent execution of the meat program in stores with and without meat cutting rooms.
• Conduct regular store visits, audits, and operational assessments.
• Establish and maintain department standards for execution, cleanliness, organization, and customer service.
• Identify operational opportunities and implement best practices across the network.
• Support new store openings, renovations, conversions, and major operational projects.
• Ensure consistency in meat cutting specifications, production standards, merchandising execution, and department operating procedures across all store locations and commissary. 

• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, company policies, sanitation standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct food safety reviews and operational audits.
• Follow up on corrective action plans and compliance issues.
• Support product recall execution and quality investigations.
• Ensure proper operating procedures are maintained in meat cutting rooms and production areas.

• Support labour planning and workforce optimization across all Meat Departments.
• Monitor productivity standards and labour performance.
• Assist stores in identifying staffing requirements and operational efficiencies.
• Promote productivity improvements while maintaining service and quality standards.

• Support inventory management best practices, ordering discipline, production planning, rotation standards, date checks, and markdown execution.
• Monitor key department performance metrics and support action plans to improve results.
• Drive initiatives that reduce shrink, spoilage, waste, and operational inefficiencies.
• Support stores in achieving labour, margin, and shrink targets through operational excellence.

• Develop and maintain training standards for Meat Departments.
• Coach and mentor Meat Department Managers and emerging leaders.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
• Ensure consistency in department training programs across the organization.
• Identify and develop future talent within the department.
• Coordinate and facilitate hands-on training in meat cutting, production planning, merchandising standards, food safety, inventory management, and shrink reduction.

• Develop, implement, and maintain Meat Department SOPs, operational standards, and playbook content. 

• Standardize cutting room procedures, production practices, and department workflows.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on consistency, efficiency, quality, and execution.
• Facilitate sharing of best practices throughout the organization.

• Provide operational input on department layouts, store design, and equipment requirements with Meat Category Manager.
• Support capital planning related to cutting rooms, refrigeration, grinders, wrappers, display cases, and department infrastructure.
• Work with Facilities and Operations teams to identify equipment replacement and maintenance priorities.

• Conduct regular business reviews with Store Managers and Meat Department Managers with direction from Category Manager.
• Share performance trends and identify opportunities for improvement with support from the Category Manager.
• Develop action plans and monitor progress against department goals.
• Share successful practices and operational improvements across the network.

• Support and optimize multiple meat department operating models, including full-service cutting rooms, case-ready programs, and any future hybrid or commissary-supported models.
• Ensure operational consistency and customer experience standards are maintained regardless of operating model.
• Ensure alignment between the Burnaby Meat Cutting Facility and store-level execution standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8+ years of progressive experience in prepared foods, food production, commissary, or central kitchen operations, including leadership roles
• Proven experience managing multi-site operations (required)
• Strong understanding of food safety, regulatory compliance, and operational standards
• Demonstrated ability to build structure, improve performance, and scale operations
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience managing cost drivers and margins
• Experience implementing systems (ERP or similar) and using data to drive decisions
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Post-secondary education in a related field is an asset

This role will be headquartered out of our Surrey, BC head office with approximately one day in office and 4 days in stores.  Travel across BC including: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Okanagan.

Put your passion into work that matters with a growing, BC-based company, committed to be a better company for our customers, our employees, and the planet. We'll surround you with a great team and a supportive learning environment where you can grow and thrive.

Choices Market is an equal opportunity employer and as such we thrive to foster a workplace where individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected.

Apply online today!