Full-Time

Management Trainee

Updated on 9/3/2026

Deadline 8/20/27
Empirical Foods

Empirical Foods

201-500 employees

Meat processing, lean ground beef producer

No salary listed

South Sioux City, NE, USA

In Person

Relocation to any company plant may be required after program completion; the role may require any shift, flexible hours, weekends, and travel to other locations.

Bachelor's

Category
Manufacturing & Production Operations
Required Skills
Microsoft Office
Management
Word/Pages/Docs
Quality Assurance (QA)
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
PowerPoint/Keynote/Slides

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Requirements
  • The candidate must demonstrate strong proficiency in computer use.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is preferred.
  • The candidate must demonstrate effective communication, leadership, and presentation skills.
  • The candidate must have analytical skills for data monitoring and results analysis.
  • The candidate must be able to deliver results on challenging assignments and work independently and as a member of various teams.
  • The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced organization, handle multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
  • The candidate must be able to become proficient in software relevant to the job focus.
  • The candidate must be comfortable working in an industrial food production environment.
  • The candidate must maintain regular and punctual attendance.
  • The candidate must be open to relocating to any company plant upon completion of the program.
  • The candidate must be able to work any shift, including second and third shifts, during and after completion of the program.
  • The candidate must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including weekends.
  • The candidate must be able to travel to other locations as needed.
  • The candidate must be able to perform walking, standing, twisting, reaching, bending, climbing, and lifting.
  • The candidate must be able to lift, push, and pull up to 60 pounds.
  • The candidate must complete a degree relevant to the program before the job starts, including a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Science, Animal Science, Agriculture, or another related discipline.
Responsibilities
  • Become immersed in key manufacturing processes and programs, including front-line and management operations, equipment, processes, people, and pace.
  • Engage in activities designed to prepare the participant to act as a relief supervisor, support preventive maintenance programs, participate in start-up teams, and assist in troubleshooting activities.
  • Become proficient in quality assurance roles and assist with new product and process development, quality specifications, raw-material monitoring, and continuous improvement activities.
  • Learn how to establish and communicate new procedures.
  • Participate with company leadership to understand how to sustain and enhance production or distribution capacity in support of sales volume requirements.
  • Participate in technology development, start-up, testing, and operation.
  • Work with plant Safety to improve the effectiveness of safety and regulatory programs.
  • Develop, improve, and present technical information to educate employees and improve the effectiveness of employees and best practices.
  • Educate and coach others after becoming technically proficient.
  • Perform special projects and other assigned responsibilities.
  • Influence a culture of technical development and appreciation of critical-thinking skills.
  • Perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Perform all other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous internship or co-op experience with the company is preferred.
  • Student-related organizational leadership roles or other leadership experience are preferred.

Empirical Foods processes beef to produce lean ground beef and other protein products for food service and retail. It uses an in-house proprietary process that warms beef trimmings, centrifuges fat, and treats the product to kill bacteria to yield about 95% lean ground beef. They also offer boxed beef and pork, portioned steaks and roasts, and fully cooked seasoned items under brands like Noble Valley, Two Rivers Meat Co, and Dos Rios Taco Meat. They differentiate themselves by owning the technology to turn by-products into high-value protein and serving large packers, ground beef producers, fast-food chains, and grocers, with capacity expansion including a new plant in Garden City, Kansas.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota

Founded

N/A

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Garden City opened April 8, 2026, adding more than 250 jobs and new volume.
  • Record-high beef prices strengthen Empirical’s pitch for cheaper lean ground beef.
  • Phase II at Garden City targets 80 million pounds annually if demand supports it.

What critics are saying

  • USDA forecast tighter calf supplies in late 2026 squeeze Empirical’s input volumes.
  • Ground beef remains haunted by pink slime stigma, threatening restaurant and retail demand.
  • A major food-safety incident at Dakota Dunes or Garden City would devastate the brand.

What makes Empirical Foods unique

  • Garden City’s 280,000-square-foot plant doubled lean ground beef capacity in 2026.
  • Empirical’s proprietary centrifuge process extracts 95% lean beef from trimmings, not cattle expansion.
  • Forty-five years of technology claim 21 extra pounds of beef per head.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours