Processing Plant Operator- IQF Trainee

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Plant Manager

Summary/Objective

• Aid in the Processing plant in departments and all positions as a team member to make sure that food products are processed according to quality specifications and customer needs.  

Essential Functions

The Plant Operator is responsible for assisting in all areas of the plant including all production areas while meeting production deadlines, ensuring quality standards are met and following all safety standards.

• Responsible for Product Movement.
• Assure quality and food safety and personal safety are observed. 
• Knowledge of machinery upkeep and operation.
• Tracking and rotation of product.  
• Ability to perform sanitation tasks as assigned.
• Communicate and Work as a Team Member.
• Participate in some discussion about confidential/sensitive matters.
• Communicate with employees and others through written, oral, and face-to-face interactions.
• Assist other team members in completion of work.  
• Follow HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) compliance guidelines.
• Communicate with fellow employees to complete tasks and adhere to safety standards.  
• Ability to work flexible work schedules with varying hours as required.  
• Knowledge and adherence of GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Include inspecting product coming out of various machines to ensure proper removal of waste and inspect that proper cuts are made.  
• Operate equipment as directed by management and per safety protocols and operating instructions. 
• Interface with maintenance crew to ensure equipment operations are consistent with product quality standards. Alert maintenance or management when equipment or product quality falls below standards or there are safety concerns.
• Work with sanitation crew to ensure cleanliness of area equipment and ensure food safety standards are adhered to.
• Maintain appropriate housekeeping and sanitation procedures within the plant and wash down station regularly and as required.
• Provide prompt, friendly and courteous service to internal and external customers. 
• Continually pursue sustainability of our natural resources with every decision, decreasing waste and being conscious of individual choices.
• Advocate positive change within our plant and company, empowering one another.
• Other duties as required. 
• Always work to produce products people can trust by recognizing poor quality coming off the processing machines or at your station and communicating with management.
• Rotate to assigned locations as instructed by the lead.
• Push and pull hoppers and carts as needed.
• Fill orders per special customer requests and work to deliver in a timely and efficient manner.
• Prepare boxes and packaging as required to meet customer orders.
• Palletize and stack boxes according to established methods and practices.
• Package product safely in accordance with quality standards while working towards approved run rates.
• Assist other departments as needed.
• Operate hand jack in a safe manner.
• Load belt working towards pre-determined run rates
• Sanitize area and equipment using prescribed safe methods

Competencies

• Ability to communicate both verbally and in written form.
• Record keeping, organizational skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Safety.
• Continual Improvement.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities. 

Work Environment

The worker is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. The worker is subject to noise. The worker can be subject to cold and wet conditions. 

Physical Demands

The worker will be required to have a range of motion as follows:  

• Often requires walking or moving to accomplish tasks.  
• Often requires standing for sustained periods of time.  
• Occasionally requires stooping and reaching.    
• Occasionally requires pushing using upper extremities to press against something with steady force.  
• Occasionally requires pulling using upper extremities to exert force to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.  
• Lifting is required on an occasional basis.
• Often requires feeling of products perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.  
• Repetitive Motions are required which involve substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Full-time position work 5 days a week, weekdays and some weekends as required

Expected Hours of Work: Work hours vary and will range from 3:30 AM – 7:00 PM, whenever processing is complete.

Travel

No travel required

Required Education and Experience

• Exemplary Attendance.
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in written form.  
• Ability to adhere to safety standards.  
• The ability to speak, read, hear, understand and follow directions with or without rea-sonable accommodations is required.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Ability to communicate clearly in English and Spanish preferred.
• Leadership Potential
• H.S. Education is preferred. 
• Experience in food manufacturing or an industrial plant is preferred. 

Additional Eligibility Qualifications 

None.

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.