Animal Handling Specialist

Your Opportunity

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories. Popular brands include Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The Animal Handling Specialist is responsible for the oversight of the animal welfare program at the plant level. This position trains all involved with the handling of livestock. Responsible for assisting with the daily handling of livestock, managing the plant’s animal welfare committee and all daily animal welfare audits. The Animal Handling Specialist is also responsible to ensure the plant is meeting government regulations pertaining to livestock handling as well as responding to noncompliance reports issued by FSIS. The incumbent will also play a major role in all audit and tour groups involving animal welfare and maintaining and updating all records involving animal welfare.

Core Responsibilities

• Monitors and provides hands-on assistance to all aspects of the animal welfare program.
• Monitors trucks for proper transportation of equipment, unloading, timeliness of arrival and wait times.
• Monitors pigs rest time, correct use of approved handling tools, proper handling procedures throughout the facility, handling procedures in extreme weather conditions and monitors for signs of sensibility.
• Maintains positive relationship with Government officials, addresses any issues or concerns and drafts response to noncompliance reports.
• Monitors condition of facilities and assists with scheduling of maintenance as needed.
• Assists with daily tasks involved with receiving animals and day to day tasks necessary to maintain efficiency and accuracy.
• Trains all current and new hires that handle livestock on Smithfield’s current livestock handling, euthanization and humane handling policies.
• Trains all Smithfield employees, producers, and transporters on the National Pork Boards – Transport Quality Assurance (TQA) program, as needed.
• Conducts daily plant and transportation audits, reviews audit results with Smithfield’s management. 
• Organizes and leads animal welfare response team committee meetings and actions.
• Serves as plant lead on all audit and tour groups involving animal welfare.
• Prepares documentation needed during animal welfare audits and presents it to the auditor. 
• Attends company and industry events and training sessions to further education, growth, relationships, and provide voice for company on animal welfare topics.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university and 2+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Bachelor's degree; preferred.
• Prior Animal Handling Instruction, preferred.
• PAACO certified auditor.
• Trucker Quality Assurance (TQA) Instructor Certification, preferred.
• Working knowledge of livestock handling tools.
• Working knowledge and experience with captive bolt gun.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with management, producers, USDA and others as needed.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize daily work assignments and manage time wisely.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequently required to move and/or lift 50 pounds and occasionally required to move and/or lift more than 100 pounds.
• Specific vision includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals.
• Noise level in the work environment can be loud when in the production area.

EEO/AA Information

Smithfield, is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status or status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job related characteristic as directed by law.

Careers and Benefits

To learn more about Smithfield’s benefits, visitsmithfieldfoods.com/careerbenefits.