Dryer

Lactalis USA; Tulare (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards Program

Education Reimbursement

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Lactalis USA in Tulare, CA is seeking a Dryer Operator to run the whey dryer, follow safety and quality procedures, and support continuous improvement. The role involves mechanical adjustments, sanitation, data entry, and shift coverage to keep lines productive.

Candidate will work in a GMP environment with daily logs, QA checks, and collaboration across maintenance and production teams to ensure efficient throughput and product quality.

Qualifications

• Experience in GMP environment preferred.
• Proven dryer operation experience.
• Reliable attendance and performance record.
• Familiarity with production documentation and shift handoffs.

Responsibilities

• Operate Whey Dryer following safety and quality procedures.
• Make mechanical adjustments to line equipment.
• Perform PM/TPMs, troubleshoot issues, assist maintenance.
• Maintain Daily Process Log; in-process testing.
• Sanitation: daily and periodic cleaning; inspections.
• Use control view to run process; reference MES/OEE tools.
• Use Excel for production sheets and reports.
• Relieve packaging for breaks and vacancies.
• Monitor metal detector checks; CCPs; weight checks; sample aseptically.
• Provide coverage for meetings and cross-training.

Skills

Mechanical adjustments

PM/TPM

Sanitation

Excel

OEE tracking

Micro sampling

Forklift operation

Control view/MES

Tools

MES

Matrix/OEE software

Job description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis Heritage Dairy, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Dryer Operator based in Tulare, CA.

Reporting to Whey Supervisor(s), the Dryer Operator's main responsibility is to operate the Whey Dryer in a productive manner following the applicable safety and quality procedures.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

The required skills below are not limited to the following

• Mechanical Activities: Make mechanical adjustments to line equipment
• Perform PM/TPM's, prevent downtime, troubleshoot issues, assist maintenance technicians, complete failure analysis-root cause identification and corrective actions
• Maintain Daily Process Log. Complete in process testing
• Sanitation Activities: Perform daily sanitation, Schedule sanitation, Pre-Op & Post-Op inspection, Period sanitation, Filter and Sock changes, complete Dryer sanitation
• Computer Activities: Use control view to run the process, Use Matrix and MES, OEE production program
• Use Excel for production sheets and reports
• Control Point Activities: Monitor charts for accuracy, pull product samples for micro and analytical
• Relieve Packaging for breaks and other vacancy
• Control Point Activities: Perform metal detector checks, (CCP), perform scale checks (Wt. Program). Record avg. weights on tally sheet, take product sample aseptically, perform packaging inspection
• Support equipment: Operate forklifts, floor scrubbers, lift equipment
• Provide coverage so that team members can attend meetings, cross-training, and/or work on projects
• Prevent downtime, prevent TPM and other production needs, including emergency situations
• Communicate and pass down business information
• Complete failure analysis including root cause and corrective action
• Actively identify and participate in continuous improvement initiatives
• Assist with equipment troubleshooting and support maintenance when needed
• Perform other assignments as needed by the team or management
• Adhere to all requirements and process changes related to our LHD Daily Management Systems implementation

Regular Attendance is an essential function of the job

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

• Must work in a safe, sanitary and productive manner in accordance to LHD GMP's.
• Documented job performance work record and attendance record to be reviewed.
• Good business participation (i.e. Level 1, safety, process improvement).
• Performed similar positions in the past.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affimative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.