Extruder Operator ($1,500 Sign-On Bonus!)

mars; United States; On-site; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking an experienced Extruder Operator to join the factory team. You will manage extrusion, coating, and batching processes to deliver high-quality kibble and meals while upholding safety and quality standards.

This role requires hands-on troubleshooting, GMP adherence, and collaboration with maintenance to optimize line performance and minimize downtime. Shift 2-2-3 (12-hour days and nights) with pay between $25 and $30 per hour plus shift premium.

Qualifications

• Operate extrusion and related equipment safely to meet quality specs.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement within the packaging hall.
• Maintain GMP compliance and area housekeeping.
• Troubleshoot systems to minimize downtime and ensure product quality.

Responsibilities

• Batch, extrude, coat, and blend kibbles to meet recipe requirements.
• Coordinate with packaging and extrusion to optimize product flow and inventory.
• Maintain a safe, clean work environment and address safety/quality concerns.
• Provide on-the-job training for new process associates on extrusion operations and GMPs.

Skills

Safety compliance

GMP knowledge

Packing operations

Troubleshooting

Team leadership

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

Job Description

Here at Mars we have an exciting opportunity for an individual seeking employment to come and join our factory team as an Extruder Operator.

The Extruder Operator will be a multi-skilled packing associate who is responsible for achieving maximum efficiency of our packing lines whilst ensuring the highest safety and quality standards are maintained. The extruder operator will also play a pivotal role in identifying and delivering continuous improvement projects within the packaging hall.

Pay: $25- $30 + shift premium

Shift: 2-2-3 schedule (12 hour Day & Night Shifts)

Key Responsibilities

• Batching - schedule, batch and assure accurate dispersion of the correct commodities, control hardstock grinding and amounts into each recipe that is delivered to the mixed meal system.
• Extrusion - extrude mixed meal and dry kibbles that meet all quality specifications and optimize plant capacity.
• Coating - coat and blend kibbles with tallow and digest into the finished product according to recipe requirements; coordinate with packaging and extrusion to optimize product stream and bunker inventory levels.
• Manage and set strategy for the five processing systems to ensure meeting or exceeding production schedule in the most efficient manner possible.
• Maintain a safe and clean work environment to promote associate safety and product integrity.
• Ability to actively address food safety and quality concerns.
• Troubleshoot processing systems that are not performing properly and take corrective action to ensure product quality while minimizing unnecessary downtime.
• Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
• Promote high quality team environment through effective team work and self-management with a positive attitude.
• Able to start and stop extrusion system with 90 days of assignment to area
• Able to perform all testing and sampling in extrusion area and complete conformance sheets accurately
• Demonstrates knowledge of area GMP's
• Demonstrates basic understanding of the process flow and equipment in the immediate area
• Able to make Color, clean & assemble die plates, and forklift experience
• Able to safely operate all equipment and systems in extrusion
• LOTO training complete
• Demonstrates understanding of E-stop strategy for area and can locate all E-stops
• Able to do weekly processing start up and shut down procedures
• Able to identify quality issues and make parameter adjustments to correct these
• Able to set up for any recipe and input initial parameters and run effectively on any extrusion system
• Able to run Quality and R&D test
• Takes ownership for area in terms of safety and housekeeping
• Understand the meat process
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of all equipment in the area, how it operates, what normal conditions are, and can identify abnormal conditions
• Able to assist in identifying solutions to problems and short term alternatives to circumvent problems
• Demonstrates ability to consistently run all KKM products at 95% A grade while optimizing moisture and minimizing regrind
• Able to optimize extruder efficiency by balancing finished product inventory mixed meal level and extruder rates
• Able to accurately troubleshoot mechanical and controls system issues
• Able to help maintenance/tech services find long term solutions to problems in area
• Able to cover for one other processing position, and keeps up to date in that area
• Able to provide on-the-job training for new process associates on extruder operation, quality parameters, GMP's, and safety
• Able to understand and adjust the schedule when needed
• Demonstrates consistent application of product knowledge in solving quality issues
• Able to work with engineering and maintenance to make upgrades to area systems
• Works on PMs on a regular basis

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean, safe work environment that promotes associate safety and product integrity.
• Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
• Promote high quality team environment through effective team work and self-direction with a positive attitude.
• Obtain and maintain proficiency in job specific business systems such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel systems. Remain current with facility utilized business systems.
• May have to perform special non-routine tasks associated with corporate requests, projects and tests
• Participate in site action circles and fo