Machine Operator - 2nd Shift

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Abilene (KS); On-site; USD 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading manufacturer of chocolates as a Machine Operator, where you'll play a vital role in ensuring product quality and efficiency. This position involves operating and maintaining machinery, monitoring production processes, and collaborating with a dedicated team in a fast-paced environment. With a commitment to safety and excellence, this innovative company offers a supportive atmosphere where you can thrive. If you have a passion for teamwork and a love for chocolate, this is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in the lives of chocolate lovers everywhere!

Benefits

Protective gear provided

Climate-controlled environment

Relaxed dress code

In-depth GMP training

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older and possess basic math skills.
• Able to lift 50 lbs and stand for long durations.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain machinery safely and proficiently.
• Monitor candy weight, quality, and production rates.
• Train and assist other employees as needed.

Skills

Basic math skills

Ability to read and write in English

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

Standing for long periods

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Forklifts

Electric pallet jacks

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!

A day in the life…

As the Machine Operator, you will work on the end of the line and will be the last person to handle the candy before it is packaged for our customers. To be successful in this role, you must be able to work well in a fast-paced environment, be a team player and have the flexibility to work across various areas. The key responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:

What you will be doing…

1. Operates and Maintains machinery, equipment and tools in a safe and proficient manner according to standards, guidelines, and instructions.
2. Sets up equipment, observes process and activity in area or on line. Ensures product meets specifications per RSC requirements.
3. Performs maintenance as required. Must have ability to read scales, rules, tapes and thermometers.
4. Must be able to read and understand quality specifications established by RSC for each product and recognize deviations from those specifications.
5. Assists, trains, directs and monitors other employees of area, line or team as directed by supervisor.
6. Responsible for ensuring SOP 222 is complete prior to start of shift, and then hourly.
7. Responsible for monitoring candy weight, quality and production rates.
8. Responsible for ensuring supplies are available for production.
9. Responsible for maintaining cleanliness of the machine.
10. Responsible for machine condition and communicating any issues with the machine to the supervisor.
11. Receives, stores, secures, maintains, loads and delivers product (raw and finished) and materials as required by the area, line or team.
12. Requires repeated bending, lifting, stooping, and climbing up and down steps.
13. Must be able to understand and complete paperwork accurately. Must have good record keeping ability.
14. Conform to rules.
15. May be assigned other jobs by plant management as required.

TYPICAL SCHEDULE: 10-Hour Shifts MONDAY - THURSDAY. START AND END TIMES WILL VARY WITH THE EARLIEST START BEING 3:45PM AND THE LATEST END TIME BEING 2:15AM. DURING PEAK SEASON, OVERTIME MAY BE REQUIRED.

TO BE CONSIDERED AN APPLICANT FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST SHOW HOW YOU MEET THE BASIC QUALIFICATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE REQUIREMENTS

Do you have what it takes?
(Basic Qualifications)

1. Must be 18 years of age or older.
2. Possess basic math skills.
3. Able to read and write in English.
4. Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
5. Able to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead during shift.
6. Able to stand on hard surfaces for the duration of shift.

Do you stand above the rest?
(Preferred Qualifications)

1. High school diploma or GED
2. Experience working in a commercial kitchen
3. Experience working in a manufacturing environment

What it’s like at the Russell Stover Plants

1. Safety. Your safety is important to us, so we provide protective gear. We also go through an in-depth Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training on your first day and continue to share safety tips daily.
2. Surroundings. You’ll be working around different machines – Schubert’s, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and chocolate candy banks/steels.
3. Activity. Some activities may require standing in one place for long periods, walking around, or climbing stairs/ladders, and routinely lifting 50 lbs.
4. Temperature. You will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment. Our temperatures are consistently around 63°F but could fluctuate depending on your specific role.
5. Smell. You will enjoy a variety of deliciously sweet aromas and you may end your day smelling like chocolate!
6. Dress code. Relaxed, with a few rules to follow for food safety, personal safety and guidance with our good manufacturing practices (GMP). Comfortable, safety-toe shoes are required and must be ASTM Compliant.

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.