Cereal Production Operator

General Mills Inc.; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 44,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, life insurance

401(k) with company match

Vacation & holidays

Job summary

General Mills Inc. in Buffalo, NY is seeking a Cereal Production Operator to support the 8-hour swing and 3rd shift operations on a rotating schedule.

You will assist with bottlenecks, troubleshoot machinery, and participate in startup, changeover, and daily line operations in a busy food production plant. The role offers overtime, shift differentials for 2nd and 3rd shifts, and opportunities for training, apprenticeship programs, and career growth through seniority-based bidding.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 2 years of mechanical/technical experience in manufacturing or related field.
• Experience with machine startup, changeover and shutdown.
• Ability to read and understand work instructions in English.

Responsibilities

• Assist operators during bottlenecks or downtime.
• Troubleshoot problems with machinery and partner with maintenance staff to resolve issues.
• Participate in startup, changeover, and shut down of operating equipment.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance.
• Assist in training new employees.
• Support production tasks such as bagging, stacking, counting, paper feeding, oiling, and related line operations.
• Assist other plant areas as assigned.

Skills

Mechanical/technical experience

Machine startup/changeover

Maintenance experience

English communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

**POSITION OVERVIEW** * Cereal Production Operator* **Starting Pay: $23.85/hour*** + Shift differential pay (2nd & 3rd shifts)* 8-hour rotating shifts | Steady 3rd shift **Why Join Our Team** The Buffalo plant produces Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Honey Nut Cheerios, Honey Nut Chex, Corn Chex, and Gold Medal Flour. Located on Buffalo’s waterfront, it offers easy access to Canada and major cities like Toronto and New York City, and supports career growth through seniority-based bidding and apprenticeship programs. The plant also builds community through events like a summer barbecue, a family picnic at a local amusement park, and a holiday dinner for all three shifts served by leadership. Employees take pride in the plant’s strong family ties, and notable history includes its former name, Cheeri-Oats, grain transport by boat, and a fire the day before it opened in 1940. **What We Have to Offer** * **$23.85 per hour for** 36 months of employment (90% of full rate of pay)* **$26.50 per hour after** 36 months of employment (100% of full rate of pay) + **Potential to move up as seniority/qualifications allows to $30-35+*** Shift Differential + Additional $.34 per hour for hours worked on 2nd shift + Additional $.41 per hour for hours worked on 3rd shift* Overtime pay* Time worked after 8 hours of work is paid at 1.5 times regular rate of pay* Time worked on Saturday is paid at 1.5 times regular rate of pay* Time worked on Sunday is paid at 2 times (double pay) regular rate of pay* Up to 120 hours (15 days) vacation annually (depending on schedule)* 11 paid company holidays* 401(k) with company match* Medical, dental, life insurance* Career growth and cross-training opportunities **Your Work Schedule and Shift Information** * 8-hour swing shift schedule rotation every week + 1st shift: 6:30 am to 2:30 pm + 2nd shift: 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm* Rotation is 1 week on 1st shift, then 1 week on 2nd shift* 8-hour steady nights only schedule + 3rd shift: 10:30 pm to 6:30 am* Ability and willingness to work overtime, any shift, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays* Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, nights, and holidays as needed* Plant operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. **KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES** As part of our manufacturing team, you will:* Assist operators during bottlenecks or downtime* Troubleshoot problems with machinery and partner with maintenance staff to resolve issues* Participate in startup, changeover, and shut down of operating equipment* Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance* Assist in training new employees* Support production tasks such as bagging, stacking, counting, paper feeding, oiling, and related line operations* Assist other plant areas as assigned **MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS** * High school diploma or GED* At least 2 years of mechanical/technical experience in manufacturing or related field* Machine startup, changeover, and shut down , machine maintenance experience* Ability to work 8-hour swing shifts and/or steady 3rd shift* Must be willing to work any shift, including weekends/holidays as even once assigned a shift, you may get moved around depending on openings/seniority.* Must possess the ability to understand and effectively communicate with co-workers, supervisors, and others in the workplace regarding work matters (our business is generally conducted in English)* Ability to lift up to 50 lbs* Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, push, pull, and twist for extended periods* Willingness to work in hot, cold, noisy, wet, or dusty conditions* Ability to climb and/or work at heights while utilizing stairs, ladders, personnel lifts, or platforms* Ability to follow human and food safety, quality, and grooming standards* Ability to wear such as protective clothing and equipment (Personal Protective Equipment -PPE) such as safety shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, hard/bump cap, hair/beard net, gloves, and face masks (when required)* Ability to work around high-speed machinery and food allergens **PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS** * At least 2 years of manufacturing or production experience