Machine Operator, WDS 1st Shift

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Abilene (KS); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Protective gear and GMP training

Climate-controlled environment

Dynamic work atmosphere with chocolate aromas

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC is looking for a Machine Operator to ensure efficient chocolate production in Abilene, Kansas. This role encompasses operating and maintaining machinery, conducting quality inspections, and fostering a clean work environment. Ideal candidates should be team players with strong communication skills and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Join us and contribute to over a century of chocolate crafting while enjoying our safety-first culture and dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Able to read and understand recipes.
• Able to routinely stand, stoop, bend, and lift overhead.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain machinery with precision.
• Conduct quality inspections and perform changeovers.
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Basic math skills

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

Team player

Tools

SAP

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 operate and maintain machinery with precision, conduct quality inspections, perform changeovers and keep detailed records to uphold production excellence. Additionally, you will troubleshoot issues as needed and maintain a clean, organized work environment. 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.

What you will be doing…

• Setting up and pre‑running equipment to ensure proper production start‑up.
• Controlling line speeds, batch formula production rates, equipment start/stop, and ensuring overall product quality and safety.
• Performing required quality checks and completing all associated documentation (e.g., downtime, HACCP, Quality 302, SAP/SOP forms).
• Completing 5S, AM, and other LPW functions.
• Performing WDS setup, including machine adjustments at startup and during changeovers to minimize downtime.
• Assisting leads with efficient WDS production operations, including coordinating staff, identifying shortages or production gaps, and supporting changeovers and cleans.
• Working directly with supervisors, management, and contractors.
• Training operators and backup operators as needed.
• Accurately reporting downtime to support OEE/TE accountability.
• Operating and maintaining machinery, equipment, and tools safely and proficiently.
• Performing basic machine changeovers, startups, and shutdowns.
• Ensuring materials are loaded correctly and replenishing supplies as needed.
• Maintaining clean and organized workstations in compliance with sanitation standards.
• Reporting mechanical or process issues to supervision or maintenance.
• Supporting team goals through cross‑training and flexible task assignments.
• 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.

Do you have what it takes?

Basic Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
• Able to read and understand recipes.
• Possess basic math skills.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Able to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead.
• Able to stand on hard surfaces for the duration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• 1 year of experience utilizing SAP.
• Strong commitment to punctuality and dependability.

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.