Machine Operator I - Day Shift

Dawn Food Products; Jackson (MI); On-site; USD 26,174 - 28,929; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance on Day 1

Competitive pay $19.50/hour

401(k) + company match

10 paid company holidays

Paid time off

Professional training

Family-owned business over 100 years

Job summary

Dawn Foods is seeking a Machine Operator I to join our Michigan bakery production team. You will work with raw materials, mix formulas, and package or palletize for shipping, ensuring quality and traceability in every batch.

The role requires adherence to GMP and safety standards, ability to read procedures, and effective communication with teammates. Overtime and weekends may be required; forklift experience is a plus and training is provided.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Food manufacturing experience preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret safety, operating and maintenance documents; write routine reports.
• Effective communication with team members.
• Ability to perform basic math in all units of measure.
• Able to work well with others or independently.
• Forklift certification is helpful and can be obtained.
• Computer skills are helpful.

Responsibilities

• Ensure produced products meet specifications, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain GMP, AIB, IFS, HACCP compliance and high performance housekeeping.
• Operate computer systems required in production processes.
• Run auxiliary equipment as needed for production.
• Follow safety procedures and batch card instructions for quality.
• Scan barcodes to record materials and outputs for traceability.
• Maintain SSOPs and GMP documentation and checks.
• Communicate quality, safety, and scheduling issues to lead or supervisor.
• Assist in training new team members.
• Adhere to Food Defense and Security procedures.

Skills

GED/high school diploma

Food manufacturing experience

Reading and writing safety docs

Communication

Basic math/measurement

Teamwork

Forklift familiarity

Computer skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift

Job description

Dawn Foods is a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. As the partner of choice for inspiring bakery success, we help customers grow their business through meaningful partnerships, research‑driven insights and innovations, and products and expertise they can depend on. As a family‑owned company, our commitments to our people, products, customers, and corporate values are all part of our recipe for success.

Why work for Dawn Foods?

• Industry‑leading health insurance on Day 1
• Competitive Pay $19.50/hour
• 401(K) + company match
• 10 Paid Company Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Professional training
• Family‑owned business over 100 years in service
• An opportunity for career advancement, working as part of an empowering workforce

Shift Schedule

• Rotating 5 days on, 5 days off, 2 on and 2 off within a 2‑week period.
• This opening works every Monday/Tuesday and every other Friday through Tuesday.
• Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Overtime and weekends required based on business needs.

Job Purpose and Overview

As a Machine Operator I you will work with raw material to complete a mix formula, mix ingredients to complete the batch and package the material or palletize for shipping.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) preferred
• Food manufacturing experience preferred
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports
• Ability to communicate effectively with fellow team members
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problem solving in variable situations
• Must be able to work well with others or independently
• Forklift certified is helpful, and must be able to become certified
• Computer skills helpful

Responsibilities

• Assure all product produced meets the product specifications, food safety and regulatory requirements
• Establish high performance standards in housekeeping, in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), American Institute of Baking (AIB), International Food Standard (IFS) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) requirements
• Operate computer system accurately as required in production processes
• Operate auxiliary equipment as needed for each respective function
• Operate in a safe manner according to manual, training, and batch card instructions to ensure high quality and food safe product
• Operate hand‑held bar code scanner to record the amount of raw materials used, product created and complete required paperwork for the run. This is the key to the traceability of the finished good products. All products must be scanned before they are moved from the production area to the warehouse location.
• Responsible for all Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOPs) and GMP to include pre‑start check lists, scale checks, forklift check list, code dates on labels, lot numbers on formulas, and batch verification counts, etc.
• Communicate to lead or supervisor any quality, safety, scheduling and food safety issues within their department or the plant
• Perform all the above tasks in a safe manner by following company GMPs, SOPs and safety regulations
• Assist in training new team members
• Adhere to the Food Defense and Security functions within the facility

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to grasp, move, or utilize objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. Also frequently required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Occasional use of sensory perception for quality measurement of products.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and frequently lift and/or move 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Temperature fluctuates with the season – colder during the winter, warmer during the summer.
• Working around heavy machinery – hearing protection required in production area.

Company Provided/Required PPE

• Non‑slip shoes
• Gloves
• Hair Net
• Beard Net (if needed)
• Safety goggles / safety ear protection
• Additional PPE may be required

Benefits

Dawn is proud to employ the top talent in the baking industry, and we reward our people with comprehensive health and well‑being coverage, competitive compensation packages, and award‑winning benefit offerings. Dawn also helps protect your future financial health with a generous 401(k) matching program that provides additional retirement funds and many tools and resources on financial wellness. Dawn encourages professional growth through tuition assistance and educational programs, and we are always searching for ways to improve our industry‑leading services and benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, citizenship status, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other status or condition that is protected by applicable law.