Butcher job description template
Butchers break down primal and subprimal cuts, trim and portion steaks, chops and roasts, grind meat and help customers at the counter. In a butcher shop or grocery meat department, a skilled butcher also keeps yields high and waste low. A strong post says whether you cut whole carcasses or boxed meat, which species you carry and how much counter time is involved.
Butcher
Full-timeYour Company is looking for a butcher to cut, trim and sell quality meat to our customers. You’ll break down primal and boxed cuts into retail portions, grind and package meat, keep the case looking great and help customers choose the right cut for what they’re cooking. Knife skills and food safety matter here, and so does friendly advice at the counter. If you’re skilled with a knife and like talking about food, we’d like to meet you.
What you’ll do
- Break down primal and subprimal cuts of beef, pork, lamb and poultry into retail cuts
- Trim, portion and tie steaks, chops and roasts to our specs and to customers’ requests
- Grind meat and make sausage, burgers and marinated items from our recipes
- Weigh, wrap and label packages with accurate prices, pack dates and handling instructions
- Set up and rotate the meat case so it looks full and older product sells first
- Help customers at the counter, explain cuts and cooking methods, and take special orders
- Clean and sanitize band saws, grinders, tools and the cutting room at the end of each shift
- Track trim and yields, and check meat deliveries for temperature and quality
What we’re looking for
- Experience cutting meat in a butcher shop, grocery meat department or processing plant
- Safe, confident knife skills and experience with a band saw and grinder, or willing to learn
- Knowledge of meat cuts and how they’re usually cooked
- Able to work in cold coolers, stand for long shifts and lift boxes of meat up to 60 lbs
- Careful about sanitation, temperature control and keeping raw products separate
Nice to have
- Whole-animal or carcass breakdown experience
- Sausage making, curing or smoking experience
- Experience setting up and merchandising a full-service meat case
Schedule
Full-time, with early-morning starts to cut and fill the case before opening, plus weekends. The weeks before major holidays are our busiest.
What we offer
- Employee discount on meat and groceries
- Paid training from experienced butchers
- Cut-resistant gloves, aprons and cold-weather gear provided
- Health insurance for full-time staff
- Paid time off
Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.
Butcher our company is looking for a butcher to cut, trim and sell quality meat to our customers. You’ll break down primal and boxed cuts into retail portions, grind and package meat, keep the case looking great and help customers choose the right cut for what they’re cooking. Knife skills and food safety matter here, and so does friendly advice at the counter. If you’re skilled with a knife and like talking about food, we’d like to meet you. What you’ll do • Break down primal and subprimal cuts of beef, pork, lamb and poultry into retail cuts • Trim, portion and tie steaks, chops and roasts to our specs and to customers’ requests • Grind meat and make sausage, burgers and marinated items from our recipes • Weigh, wrap and label packages with accurate prices, pack dates and handling instructions • Set up and rotate the meat case so it looks full and older product sells first • Help customers at the counter, explain cuts and cooking methods, and take special orders • Clean and sanitize band saws, grinders, tools and the cutting room at the end of each shift • Track trim and yields, and check meat deliveries for temperature and quality What we’re looking for • Experience cutting meat in a butcher shop, grocery meat department or processing plant • Safe, confident knife skills and experience with a band saw and grinder, or willing to learn • Knowledge of meat cuts and how they’re usually cooked • Able to work in cold coolers, stand for long shifts and lift boxes of meat up to 60 lbs • Careful about sanitation, temperature control and keeping raw products separate Nice to have • Whole-animal or carcass breakdown experience • Sausage making, curing or smoking experience • Experience setting up and merchandising a full-service meat case Schedule Full-time, with early-morning starts to cut and fill the case before opening, plus weekends. The weeks before major holidays are our busiest. What we offer • Employee discount on meat and groceries • Paid training from experienced butchers • Cut-resistant gloves, aprons and cold-weather gear provided • Health insurance for full-time staff • Paid time off
Screening questions for a butcher
Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.
- Do you have experience cutting meat in a butcher shop, grocery store or processing facility?Yes / No · required
- Which species and cuts have you broken down, and with what equipment?Short answer · required
- How would you help a customer who isn’t sure which cut to buy for a dinner party?Paragraph
Butcher interview questions
- Walk me through how you’d break down a beef chuck or a pork loin into retail cuts.
- How do you get the best yield from a primal and keep trim waste down?
- What safety steps do you follow every time you use the band saw or grinder?
- A customer asks for a cut we don’t usually carry. How do you handle it?
- How do you keep the case looking full late in the day without cutting too much?
- What do you check when a meat delivery arrives?
- Which cuts or techniques would you like to learn more about?
Tips for hiring a butcher
- Do a paid cutting test with a primal you use often. Watch knife safety, speed and how much sellable product they get out of it.
- Look beyond butcher shops. Line cooks and processing plant workers often have strong knife skills and can learn retail cuts quickly.
- Mention the cold coolers, lifting and early starts in the post so applicants know what the job feels like day to day.
- Ask references about safety habits around saws and grinders. A careless butcher is a risk to themselves and everyone around them.