2nd Shift General Labor

All About Personnel; Melrose Park (IL); On-site; USD 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Aapstaff in Melrose Park, IL is seeking a Production Associate for a fast-paced dairy production environment. You will operate cheese processing equipment, assist with packaging, and help ensure product quality and food safety standards.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent, 1–2 years in food manufacturing preferred, basic English, and ability to lift up to 50 lbs. On-the-job training provided; shift details and pay rate apply.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Experience: 1–2 years in food manufacturing or general manufacturing preferred; on-the-job training provided.
• Language: Read, write, and speak basic English; bilingual Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor cheese production equipment (chopping, dicing, grating, shredding, filling).
• Assist with packaging, blending, conveyor systems, labeling lines, and metal detection/X-ray equipment.

Skills

Basic English

Basic math

Digital touch screens

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Job Description: Production Associate

Location: Melrose Park, IL 60160

Shift: 2nd Shift 3:30 pm to 12:30pm

Pay Rate: $16.50

Job Type: Full-time

Position Summary

The 1st Shift Production Associate is responsible for the hands‑on processing, handling, and packaging of premium Italian cheese products (including Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, and Fresh Mozzarella). Working in a fast‑paced, temperature‑controlled environment, you will operate production machinery, monitor product quality, and maintain strict food safety standards.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Equipment Operation: Operate and monitor cheese processing equipment including chopping, dicing, grating, shredding, and volumetric filling machines.
• Packaging & Blending: Assist with loading ribbon blenders, managing conveyor belt systems, monitoring bagging and labeling lines, and operating metal detection/X-ray equipment.
• Material Handling: Safely stage, weigh, and prepare raw ingredients and bulk cheese blocks for the production lines.
• Quality & Food Safety: Conduct visual inspections of cheese products at various stages of production to ensure consistency and catch defects. Strictly adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Safe Quality Food (SQF) standards.
• Sanitation: Assist with the setup and teardown of production equipment before and after scheduled sanitation cycles. Maintain a clean, organized work area to prevent cross‑contamination.
• Palletizing: Package finished products into cases and properly stack/palletize goods for warehouse transfer.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: High school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 1-2 years of experience in food manufacturing or general manufacturing is preferred, but on-the-job training is provided. Experience in dairy processing is a strong plus.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, write, and speak basic English to interpret batch sheets, safety signs, and product labels. Bilingual proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
• Core Skills: Strong basic math skills (ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly for scaling and packaging checks). Ability to read and operate basic digital touch screens or control panels.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Must be able to stand, walk, bend, and reach for the duration of an 8-to-10 hour shift.
• Comfortably lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs on through the day.
• Ability to work comfortably in a temperature-controlled food production facility (environments may vary from cool/refrigerated areas for fresh cheese to standard ambient warehouse temperatures).