Dryer and Packaging Operator

Hilmar Cheese Company; Hilmar (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilmar Cheese Company is seeking a Dryer & Packaging Operator to join our production team. You will operate the dry processing equipment and the packaging line to ensure quality products and accurate labeling.

The role emphasizes safety, sanitation, and adherence to GMP policies in a fast-paced dairy environment. Ideal candidates have strong English skills, can handle 12-hour shifts, lift up to 60 lbs, and use basic computer tools for control systems and documentation.

Qualifications

• Must be able to read, write and speak English proficiently.
• Able to work 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends/holidays.
• Lift up to 60 lbs during daily tasks and duties.
• Basic computer skills for production systems and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Operate the Dryers to ensure quality product meeting specifications.
• Operate packaging systems to seal and fill bags and totes properly.
• Maintain accurate and complete paperwork for production.
• Learn and operate computer related controls used in the line.
• Improve knowledge of dryer process equipment and protein handling.
• Monitor additives to retentate streams for product functionality.
• Maintain equipment and work environment cleanliness per standards.
• Follow CIP cleansing steps and plant cleaning procedures.
• Adhere to GMP guidelines and all company policies.

Skills

English proficiency

Lift 60 lbs

12-hour shifts

Basic computer skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

SAP

Packaging equipment

Job description

At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state-of-the art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.

Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.

A Typical Day

The Dryer & Packaging Operator is primarily responsible for operation of the Dry process and associated equipment.

Job Responsibilities

• Operation of the Dryers to insure quality product that meets specifications.
• Operation of the packaging systems to insure adequately sealed and properly filled bags and totes.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate and complete paperwork.
• Ability to learn and operate computer related controls.
• Ongoing Improvement of knowledge and understanding of all dryer process equipment and protein in general.
• Monitoring of all additives to the retentate streams to insure the proper functionality of the various products.
• Maintain and monitor all QC and production programs per HCC standards.
• Responsible for maintaining equipment and work environment cleanliness.
• Responsible for proper product handling to insure minimum product loss.
• Responsible for understanding and conducting CIP’s and other cleaning steps according to plant procedures.
• Responsible for following GMP guidelines and all company policies as outlined in the employee handbook.
• Active participation and ownership in your training and development program and associated activities, classes and events, which will be held before, during, after shifts and during scheduled days off.
• Help coach and train teammates and participate in on the job, buddy training.
• Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures. This includes communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates as well as participating in food safety and sanitation root cause analysis and improvement activities when required.
• Prioritize safety above all other job duties by having a safety first approach at all times. This includes reporting any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up.
  

What You Will Need

• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English
• Must be able to work 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends, holidays and overtime as needed
• Ability to lift up to 60lbs
• Basic computer skills

What Will Put You Ahead

• High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution
• SAP experience
• Dairy manufacturing experience
• Active/past member of departmental safety team
• Skilled in packaging in a food manufacturing environment

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to:

• Stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and talk or hear.
• Stand and walk almost the entire workday.
• Employees must be physically capable of working in any of the job tasks within their respective areas..
• Required to work at heights and in fairly small areas.
• Pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, handling and grasping, twisting/turning, repetitive bending.

Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.