This position is a new competitive apprenticeship that offers valuable learning opportunities including paid on-the-job training and a company-funded Butchery & Meat Processing Certificate, ServSafe Certificate, and HACCP certification. Two positions for the 2023 - 2024 term are available for applicants who are interested in learning more about all aspects of meat production and starting a career with Lake Geneva Country Meats.

Applicants will go through a normal interview process and will be hired as full-time LGCM employees with a Monday - Friday daytime schedule. Applicants will also be sponsored in the Gateway Technical College Intro to Butchery & Meat Processing Certificate program, space and qualifications permitting. Keep reading to learn more about this opportunity.

About Lake Geneva Country Meats

Lake Geneva Country Meats is a family-owned and operated company that has been in business since 1965. We combine a USDA-inspected sausage kitchen and custom processing facility with a gourmet retail store. We strive to provide a workplace that treats our team members as human beings first by allowing for flexibility and understanding that life happens. We value people who are passionate about food, want to provide exceptional experiences for our customers, and are committed to working towards always improving.

Job summary

This position is an entry-level position designed to train someone who has a passion for great food and would like to learn more about working in a retail meat market but does not have experience in the field. This position will be exposed to various entry-level retail tasks in both the meat production and retail operations fields.

Applicants for this position will be enrolled in Gateway Technical College’s Intro to Butchery & Meat Processing Certificate program for Fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024. Lake Geneva Country Meats will pay for tuition if the applicant and no reimbursement will be required if the applicant continues working for LGCM for a year after the completion of the class.

After completion of the class and a successful year of learning on the job, this position will be evaluated, and a more permanent role will be assigned to the employee based on the employee’s strengths and desires.

Essential functions

• Waiting on customers.
• Performing production tasks such as marinating chicken, slicing jerky, etc.
• Wrapping and packaging meats.
• Assisting with cleaning, trimming, and cutting retail cuts of meat from primals.
• Assisting in deli kitchen with the preparation of ready-to-eat, and heat-and-serve meal options.
• Cleaning food contact surfaces, as well as the store.

Competencies

• Ability to understand the various features of the products sold at LGCM.
• Ability to help customers select the proper product for their occasion.
• Ability to follow LGCM standards in preparing, packaging, and selling products.
• Ability to fabricate cuts of meat to LGCM standards.
• A desire to provide pleasant and helpful customer service.
• Positive, team-oriented attitude.
• Ability to use modern technology such as Apple iPad.

Work environment

This position works in various environments, including our retail store, prep kitchen, and production floor environments. These rooms are kept at a variety of temperatures and may be wet during clean-up times. Trips in and out of freezers and coolers are necessary, as well.

Physical requirements

This position must be able to:

• Fluently communicate verbally and in writing in the English language.
• Lift up to 40 pounds.
• Safely use sharp objects such as meat knives, deli slicers, and more.
• Stand for an 8 hour shift: 2 - fifteen minute rest breaks and 1 - thirty minute meal break are provided during a shift.
• Operate in a variety of temperature environments from a “room temperature” retail store to coolers kept in the 40º range, to freezers that are kept in the 0º range.

Education and experience

• Prior experience in a retail or food-related industry is preferred but not necessary.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.