Hager 1st shift Team Lead

Johnsonville; Denmark (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Company-paid short-term disability and

Life insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Salm Partners is seeking an Operations Associate to support staffing, shift communication, and efficient production. You will assist with pre-shift meetings, monitor equipment setup, and help maintain safety and sanitation standards on the line.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in a USDA-regulated food plant, strong mechanical aptitude, and good communication skills. Full-time, on-site role with comprehensive benefits is offered.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 3 years of operator-level experience in a USDA-regulated food facility.
• Strong understanding of QX extrusion and cook-in-package processes.

Responsibilities

• Assist with staffing and scheduling for production shifts.
• Ensure equipment setup and operation meet standard parameters.
• Support maintenance and operator adjustments to optimize performance.
• Maintain production quality data and communicate issues to the team.
• Promote safety and sanitation in all production areas.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

MAS500 ERP

Job description

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Provides technical direction and assistance in Sleeving, Stuffing, Rapid Pak packaging, Case Pack, Production Staging and Palletizing areas to ensure safe and efficient production and sanitation processes. Maintains compliance with safety, food safety, quality, SQF, GMP, and USDA requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Facilitator with identifying temporary worker staffing needs on a weekly basis based on the established production schedule and communicate staffing needs to Human Resources.
• Enter new temporary workers in the hours tracking database and instruct workers in its use.
• Greet temporary workers and communicate the assigned job at the start of the shift.
• Assist the Facilitator with pre-shift communication meetings.
• Facilitate production activities to ensure safe and efficient operations.
• Verify correct set-up of equipment per the established Operational Parameters.
• Assist with operation and daily maintenance of equipment; support Operators in adjusting machines and equipment as needed to optimize performance.
• Assists with performing the production duties as needed during the course of the shift.
• Confer with Maintenance personnel, operators and production partners to resolve equipment problems.
• Ensure production supplies are available to meet the production schedule for the shift, control and record supply usage and inventory or film, labels and boxes for production during the shift.
• Monitor quality of product and record hourly performance results for waste, #1 and #2 product: report problems and work with operators to resolve in a timely manner.
• Troubleshoot equipment problems and performance issues in the packaging and boxing areas.
• Communicate information to and from the Stuffing Room, Quality Assurance and Expediting personnel.
• Keep management informed with regard to equipment performance, product quality, safety and food safety issues or concerns.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with all Salm Partners and USDA sanitation and food safety requirements.
• Monitor and maintain sanitary conditions in the production areas; direct and assist with the daily sanitation and the Master Sanitation activities on the shift.
• Communicate major production issues to the Facilitator and/or Shift Manager in a timely manner.
• Provide backup assistance to production shift personnel as needed.
• Provide input and feedback to the Facilitator on partner performance.
• Promote a positive and supportive work environment.
• Comply with all established safety policies and procedures; promote and maintain safety awareness and identify and resolve potential safety issues.
• Ensure department personnel follow established Lock-out/Tag-out procedures without fail.
• Conduct periodic Safety Observation Audits and Lockout/Tag-out audits to ensure compliance.
• Support the Lean Manufacturing initiatives of the company.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. Indirectly oversees the Rapid Pak Operators, Palletizers, Vat Washers, and Production Line Workers assigned to the shift.

Education

A high school diploma or general education degree (GED) is normally required.

Experience

• Prior leadership experience and previous work experience in a USDA-regulated food manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 3 years' experience in an Operator role in the company is also normally required.
• A thorough understanding of our QX extrusion system and cook-in-package process is also strongly preferred.

Skills

Language Skills
Must possess effective interpersonal communication skills, with strong verbal and written communication skills. Must have the ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Must have the ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Must also have the ability to speak effectively before small groups of partners of the organization. Must listen well and promote an environment of open communication and problem solving.

Computer Skills
Must possess computer proficiency with Word, Excel, and Outlook. Previous experience using MAS500 or related integrated ERP manufacturing software systems is preferred.

Mathematical Skills
Must possess strong math skills, with the ability to accurately add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Must also possess the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume, and to create and interpret bar graphs and data charts.

Reasoning Ability
Must possess the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions, and the ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form. Strong trouble shooting and problem-solving skills are required.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the Partner is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear. The Partner is occasionally required to use hands for fine manipulation. Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and depth perception.

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the Partner is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and caustic chemicals. There is a wide variation of temperatures ranging from 35° F to 100° F in the various work areas. The work environment is wet and slippery most of the time. The noise level in the production work environment is usually loud. Partners are required to wear frocks, hairnets, slip‑resistant footwear, and hearing protection at all times in all production areas. Gloves, goggles, face shield, rain suits, and rubber boots will be required at different times in the course of the work being performed.

Other Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must have strong communication skills and enjoy teaching and developing people.

Must be able to effectively handle multiple priorities and time demands within a deadline-intensive environment.

Must have a strong mechanical aptitude.

Benefits and Compensation

Full‑time Partners at Salm have access to a wide range of benefits designed to support their well‑being and future. This includes a 401(k) with a company match, health, dental, and vision coverage, as well as an optional Health Savings Account (HSA). Salm also provides company‑paid short‑term disability and life insurance policies. Full‑time Partners enjoy paid time off (PTO) and the opportunity to grow within a values‑driven and team‑focused environment. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and position.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.