Position Summary

Manage Meat Lab activities that include teaching, research and outreach programs. Successfully market meat products from the same programs.  Maintain compliance with USDA Federal Inspection requirements. 

Duties include implementation and supervision of humane livestock slaughter.  Communicate with USDA and maintain USDA Inspection. Implement the Meat Lab HACCP plan. Supervise assistant manager. Recruit and train student workers. Develop and follow fiscally responsible management practices. Oversee Meat Lab products marketing and sales. Maintain inventories and supplies. Develop community connections and revenue generating.

Assist with undergraduate instruction. Provide product, laboratory set-up and assist with instruction as directed. Oversee clean-up in cooperation with instructors.

Communicate with faculty and staff in their efforts to meet the teaching/research/outreach mission. This includes coordination of production throughput, including product sales, to maximize product utilization across the mission. Develop and communicate slaughter and processing schedule for research and teaching. Increase awareness of Meat Lab capabilities for teaching, research and extension.  University Culinary Services for product preparation and sale for on-campus dining facilities.

Maintain the Meat Laboratory and its equipment in excellent working order.  This will include inspecting equipment weekly for its function and safety and developing a maintenance and replacement schedule for laboratory equipment. Oversee the purchases of cleaning supplies used in daily operation.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Animal Science, Food Science or Meat Science; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in slaughtering animals, cutting and processing meats, familiarity with Federal regulations for slaughtering and processing meat, computer applications, experience in public relations, time management, supervision, pricing and calculating weights and measures in processed meat recipes; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Valid Driver's license; HACCP Certification.

Desired Qualifications

Working knowledge of email and Microsoft office programs

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Cover letter and resume

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Summary of Physical Demands

This position requires great physical activity.  Sides of beef may exceed 500lbs and there is no mechanical assistance for breakdown. Animal handling, euthanasia, carcass breakdown, lifting 100lbs +, standing in wet or cold conditions.  Using hand tools daily with safe knife handling practices. 

Summary of Health Risks

Exposure to all weather conditions and hazardous materials.

Bidding eligibility ends May 5, 2026 at 11:55 P.M.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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