Night Dry Extrusion Operator

Tuffy's Pet Foods; Perham (MN); On-site; USD 33,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental

Vision

PTO 104 hours

Paid holidays

KLN Clinic access

401k match

Home grant program

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Tuffy’s Pet Foods in Perham, MN is seeking a Night Shift Dry Extruder Operator. You will review daily production schedules, set up dies and knives, operate the extruder, and ensure products meet quality specs while handling routine maintenance tasks.

This role offers a base hourly rate with a 10% night differential, a sign-on bonus, and profit sharing eligibility after one year. A comprehensive benefits package awaits the successful candidate.

Qualifications

• Must be able to read, speak, write and understand English.
• General mathematical ability and basic computer skills.
• Willing to fill in on other shifts as required by supervisor.
• Good judgment, communication skills and reasoning abilities.
• Ability to handle weights up to 100lbs and 50lbs routinely.

Responsibilities

• Review and follow daily production schedule verifying against product sheets.
• Coordinate with mill room, dry packaging and slurry operations for correct bins and tanks.
• Choose die plate and set up knives for next production run.
• Operate extruder and monitor equipment to meet QA specifications.
• Inspect samples and record operation parameters per shift.
• Monitor feed formulas for color, odor and grind; notify supervisor if out of spec.
• Daily cleanup and sanitation of extruder area; notify maintenance of issues.
• Involved in weekly area cleaning and inventory of ingredients.

Skills

Math skills

English literacy

Team player

Job description

Tuffy's Pet Foods, Perham, MN, US

Essential Duties

• Choose correct die plate and set up knives for next production run scheduled

Dry Extruder Operator – Tuffy’s Pet Foods

Hours: 10pm-6am S-TH

Compensation

• All in hourly compensation: $26.87/hr
  • Base Pay: $23.32/hr
  • Sign on Bonus: $1.22
  • 10% Shift Differential for Night Shift: $2.33/hr
• Profit Sharing Eligibility: Begins after completing 1 year of employment ($7.7 Million in Profits Paid to Profit Sharing Pool in 2025)

Our Coolest Benefit - Profit Sharing!

In our most recent fiscal year, KLN Family Brands paid out over $7.7 million into our profit sharing pool for employees!!

Our Story

KLN Family Brands is a 3rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships, and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”

Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people, the quality of our products, our spirit & moxie, our tradition, and the way we treat our community & beyond. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.

The Opportunity

Tuffy’s Pet Food is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the Night Shift-Dry Extruder Operator position. Requirements, desired qualification, skills and abilities located below.

Essential Duties

• Review and follow daily production schedule verifying against their product information sheets for accuracy.
• Communicate with the mill room and dry packaging personnel as to which bins should be used for their immediate production needs.
• Coordinate with slurry operators to verify which tanks to use for liquid injection products.
• Choose correct die plate and set up knives for next production run scheduled
• Operate the extruder and monitor ancillary equipment to produce products that meet the desired specifications set forth by the Quality Assurance Department.
• Visually inspect and save samples throughout all runs to be taken to the Quality Control Lab for final analysis.
• Responsible to record operation parameters and turn in at the end of each shift.
• Monitor all feed formulas presented to them for color, odor, and grind notifying supervisor of anything that looks out of specifications.
• Cleaning systems as required between production runs. Daily clean up and sanitation of extruder area.
• Setting up die plates for each different production run and monitoring knife wear.
• Calibrate process liquid mass flow meters prior to runs that require their usage
• Take monthly and semi-annual inventory of department ingredients.
• Involved in weekly cleaning of extrusion area per weekly cleaning schedule
• Notify maintenance of any unusual equipment noises or failures. Train New Department employees.

Qualifications

• General mathematical ability and basic computer skills
• Learning, memorizing and executing a sequence of procedures
• Must be able to read, speak, write and understand English
• Willing and able to get along with others. Be willing to fill in on other shifts as required by supervisor.
• Good judgment, communication skills and reasoning abilities.
• Ability to handle weights of up to 100lbs and 50lbs on a routine basis

Benefits

• Health, Dental, & Vision
  • Wellness program discounts - up to $150 discounted towards health insurance monthly
• 104 Hours of PTO Accrued in First Year of Employment
• 7 Paid Holidays
• KLN Clinic - Free doctor visits & more than 300 free prescriptions
• 401k Match Opportunity
  • Opportunity to meet with our onsite financial advisors
• $10,000 Forgivable Home Grant Program
• Tuition Assistance

*All hires are contingent on a clean background check and a successful drug test (UA), this means that a job offer is not final until both the background check and drug test results are satisfactory to the employer*