HVAC Technician

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Protective gear provided

Climate-controlled environment

Safety training (GMP/FSQA)

Daily safety tips and guidance

Equal employment opportunity

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC seeks an HVAC Technician to oversee heating, cooling, and ammonia systems in our manufacturing facility. You will support the Engineering and Maintenance Department, performing tasks with precision to keep production efficient and compliant.

You’ll apply 5S and root cause analysis, follow GMP and FSQA requirements, and report hazards promptly. The role requires basic math, tools proficiency, and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs in a climate-controlled environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Basic math skills and ability to read technical manuals.
• Experience handling hand and power tools and diagnostic equipment.
• Strong English communication skills, written and spoken.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work safely at heights.

Responsibilities

• Oversee HVAC, ammonia, and related systems for performance and safety.
• Follow GMP and FSQA processes to ensure product safety.
• Support PSM program and maintain a clean working environment using 5S.
• Install, troubleshoot, repair, and operate HVAC equipment.
• Record and report system issues to supervisor or Plant Engineer.

Skills

High school diploma

Math and measurement skills

Technical manuals comprehension

Hand and power tools mastery

English fluency

Lift up to 50 lbs

Basic computer knowledge

Safe work at heights

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

As the HVAC Technician, you will be responsible for overseeing the heating, air conditioning & ammonia systems, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. You will administer the HVAC service requirements and support the RSC Process Safety Management (PSM) program, playing a critical role in maintaining a safe and compliant facility. Working within the Engineering and Maintenance Department, you will contribute to the overall success of production by performing assigned tasks with precision and expertise. Your technical skills and commitment to excellence will help create a comfortable, efficient, and well‑maintained environment within the RSC property.

What you will be doing…

• Perform assigned tasks, follow specific instructions, receive progress checks and feedback.
• Proceed alone on routine tasks following standard instructions; but will openly refer to all questionable situations to immediate supervisor / Plant Engineer (&/or the PSM Coordinator (Supervisor).
• Install, troubleshoot, repair, operate and replace RSC HVAC, Production and Facility related equipment and services.
• Apply BDA to evaluate service effectiveness, perform Root Cause Analysis to prevent recurring HVAC issues, and maintain a clean, efficient work environment using 5S principles.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Machines, tools, equipment, work aids used:

• Boilers
• Building Control System
• Compressors (Air and Refrigeration)
• Concentrators
• Cooling Towers
• Pressurized Water Systems
• Heat Exchangers
• Air Cooling Systems
• Shop Equipment
• Ladders/Platforms, Man-lifts, forklifts
• Assist with grounds and facility basic maintenance when call upon

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• High school diploma or GED
• Knowledge and application of basic math skills
• Ability to comprehend technical manuals, instructions, and safety regulations
• Knowledge and ability to safely and proficiently use a variety of hand and power tools and diagnostic equipment
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation
• Ability to routinely lift up to 50lbs
• Basic computer knowledge
• Ability to safely perform tasks at elevated heights

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Trade Certification
• Two to three years of experience in a manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge and experience in electrical, plumbing, refrigeration, HVAC, boiler, and compressed air systems
• HVAC Certificates - Ammonia Operator I & II
• Some experience Ammonia refrigeration

Physical Requirements:

• Must have the ability to frequently stand, stoop, bend, climb and lift to meet job requirements
• Must have applicably good hand-eye coordination and possess motor skills and dexterity in ceiling height and /or relatively cramped work areas
• Must have applicably good visual/hearing, sufficient to detect warning devices and/or signs
• Must be able to wear a respirator (requires medical examination & respirator fit test)
• May be required to work in extreme cold, extreme heat, and/or extreme wet – humidity with or without disabling body temperature changes / fluctuations
• Will be required to work routinely in noisy environments
• Will be required to perform repetitive motions and hard work when called upon to do so

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside a variety of equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.