Meat Lab Lead

North American Meat Institute - The University Of Illinois; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical dental and vision insurance

Sick and vacation time

15 paid holidays

Job summary

The North American Meat Institute - The University Of Illinois is looking for a Meat Lab Lead (Instructional Support Technician III) to manage day-to-day operations at the Fresno State University Agricultural Laboratory. This full-time role involves overseeing slaughter and processing activities, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting educational programs.

The ideal candidate will have at least three years of supervisory experience in multi-species slaughter, a background in Animal Science or Food Science, and strong interpersonal skills. The position comes with competitive benefits and a salary range of $5,044 to $5,248 per month.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to three years managing or supervising multi-species slaughter.
• Experience with HACCP training and USDA-certified facilities is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support educational and commercial activities.
• Manage meat processing and packaging.
• Ensure USDA-FSIS regulatory compliance.

Skills

Operational problem analysis

Interpersonal communication skills

Inventory management

Leadership and training

Business math

Education

Bachelor's or equivalent in Animal or Food Science

HACCP Certification

Job description

Meat Lab Lead (Instructional Support Technician III)

Job No: 559105
Work Type: Staff
Location: Central California: Fresno
Categories: Bargaining Unit: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Appointment Type: Probationary, Time Basis: Full time, Job Search Category/Discipline: Education Support Professionals

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary hiring range is $5,044 – $5,248 per month (Steps 1‑3), commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary range for this classification is $5,044 – $7,348 per month. This is a full‑time (40 hrs per week), probationary, non‑exempt position. CSU provides medical, dental, vision, CalPERS, sick and vacation time, and 15 paid holidays.

Job Summary

The Fresno State University Agricultural Laboratory (UAL) – Agricultural Operations supports courses for seven academic departments and operates on‑campus food production enterprises. The Meat Laboratory is an 8,000‑sq‑ft food‑inspected facility overseeing slaughter and processing of beef, swine, sheep, and goats, with future preparation of ready‑to‑eat products. Under the Farm Operations Manager, the Meat Lab Lead will conduct and supervise all phases of day‑to‑day operations, from live‑animal handling through packaging and sale at the CSUF Fresno Gibson Market.

Key Responsibilities

• Support educational and commercial activities.
• Conduct animal evaluations.
• Perform kill‑floor duties and carcass handling.
• Manage meat processing and packaging.
• Track inventory and purchasing.
• Oversee student employee work.
• Conduct meat‑related research.
• Ensure USDA‑FSIS regulatory compliance and HACCP.

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge of
  • Slaughter and processing procedures.
  • Ordering, inventory, and distribution.
  • Materials, supplies, and equipment for meat preparation.
  • Safety training and precautions.
  • Computer word processing, presentation, and data management.
• Skill/Ability
  • Analyze operational problems and recommend solutions.
  • Select appropriate staff/student labor.
  • Train, plan, direct, and monitor others.
  • Physically handle large carcasses and cuts.
  • Effective interpersonal and communication skills with diverse teams.
  • Plan, organize, evaluate, delegate, and manage schedules.
  • Perform equipment repairs independently.
  • Maintain records and calculate project needs.
  • Manage sensitive interactions with negotiation and persuasion.
  • Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Perform business math and budget analysis.
  • Write and present reports.
  • Assess safety needs and conduct training.

Education and Experience

• Equivalent to three years managing or supervising multi‑species slaughter, carcass fabrication, and processing.
• OR two years of college (16 semester units) with coursework on raw food preparation and one year of supervisory meat‑handling experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience administering HACCP training.
• Experience in a USDA‑FSIS inspected facility.
• Preferred skills/certificates or education:
  • Bachelor’s or equivalent in Animal Science, Food Science, or processing fields.
  • HACCP Certification.
  • Animal Welfare and Handling (PACO) Certified.
• Familiar with instructional programming related to materials and supply distribution.
• Experience supervising diverse individuals to complete objectives.

Equal Employment Opportunity

California State University, Fresno is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified applicants with disabilities who self‑disclose.

Title IX

For notice of non‑discrimination on the basis of gender or sex and information about the Title IX Coordinator, visit https://www2.calstate.edu/titleix.

Application Deadline

Applications received by July 5, 2026 will be given full consideration.