Smokehouse Quality Specialist-Lead

Job Details:

Job Location:

MEXICO MO - Mexico, MO, Salary Range: $24.00

Hourly, Join the TEAM at Western Smokehouse Partners!

We’re more than just a leader in the better-for-you meat snack industry-we’re a team driven by quality, innovation and a passion for great meat sticks and jerky. With eight facilities across five states, we’re setting the standard in excellence for our co‑manufacturing and private label customers. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for highly motivated individuals who want to be part of an industry‑leading company that values contribution, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Western Smokehouse Partners is looking for a fulltime Smokehouse Quality Specialist‑Lead.

1. Position Summary

The Smokehouse Team Lead supports the Smokehouse Supervisor in coordinating daily smokehouse operations to ensure products are processed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with established production schedules, product specifications, and food safety requirements. This position provides hands‑on leadership to smokehouse employees, coordinates daily assignments, monitors processing activities, verifies completion of required production documentation, and helps maintain product quality, yield, equipment reliability, sanitation, and workplace safety.

The Smokehouse Team Lead serves as a primary point of contact for employees on the production floor and is responsible for communicating operational issues, process deviations, equipment concerns, and staffing needs to the Smokehouse Supervisor. The Team Lead is expected to lead by example, reinforce company standards, support employee training, and maintain consistent execution of approved procedures. This position assists with departmental performance but does not replace the Smokehouse Supervisor’s overall accountability for department results.

2.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

A. Daily Production Coordination

• Coordinate daily smokehouse activities and employee assignments according to the production schedule and direction of the Smokehouse Supervisor.
• Ensure the correct products, product lots, recipes, smokehouse programs, and processing instructions are followed.
• Assist with product preparation, smokehouse loading, processing, unloading, and transfer to subsequent production operations, as applicable.
• Monitor production progress throughout the shift and communicate delays or schedule concerns promptly.
• Ensure employees follow established operating procedures and complete assigned tasks correctly and efficiently.
• Identify production bottlenecks, workflow issues, and opportunities to reduce downtime and improve productivity.
• Assist with shift start‑up, changeovers, and handoffs to ensure continuity of production.
• Communicate staffing shortages, equipment availability issues, and production concerns to the Smokehouse Supervisor.

B. Food Safety and Processing Compliance

• Ensure employees follow approved food safety procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), personal hygiene requirements, and applicable sanitation practices.
• Monitor smokehouse operations to verify that required cooking, smoking, drying, and other applicable thermal processing parameters are followed.
• Verify that employees use the correct approved process settings and follow established operating instructions.
• Ensure required processing records, temperature charts, electronic records, and production logs are completed accurately and promptly.
• Immediately report missed process requirements, temperature deviations, equipment malfunctions, documentation errors, or other potential food safety concerns to the Smokehouse Supervisor and Quality Assurance.
• Follow established procedures for identifying and segregating potentially affected product and placing product on hold…