Operator Trainee - Conway, NC

Colonial Group; Conway (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Bakelite is seeking an Operator Trainee to support production excellence and safety in Conway, NC. You will operate and monitor manufacturing processes, handle materials, and participate in our training program designed to develop technical skills and professional growth.

You will join a disciplined team focused on safety, reliability, and continuous improvement, with opportunities to advance as you gain experience in polymer resins and related chemical processes.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Experience operating a forklift.
• At least two years of continuous employment in the last four years preferred.
• One year or more in an industrial, warehouse, military, farming, construction, mechanical or production environment.
• One year or more of experience using a computer or tablet for data entry and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Load and unload raw materials and finished goods per customer and chemical specifications.
• Monitor equipment and perform minor troubleshooting to ensure production efficiency.
• Use a computer to document data such as shipping/receiving information and manufacturing processes.
• Work in outdoor weather and in an industrial environment, at heights and in confined spaces.
• Adhere to plant health, safety, and environmental guidelines and wear PPE as required.
• Meet and exceed production goals while working a rotating 24/7 shift schedule, including nights and weekends.

Skills

Forklift experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Operator Trainee: The Impact You’ll Have On The Organization and World

• You’ll help us achieve operational excellence. As an Operator Trainee, you will ensure high-quality standards that help our organization to consistently meet production goals and enhance overall operational efficiency.
• You’ll be a key member of a dynamic team that’s built on open communication, trust and transparency.
• You’ll collaborate to carry out various manufacturing tasks, such as operating machinery, monitoring production processes, and ensuring quality control.
• You’ll build a meaningful career. At Bakelite, you’ll be supported by ongoing learning and development through our well-established training and certification program, designed to help you advance and grow professionally.
• You’ll play a critical role in Safety and Reliability. You’ll help us further strengthen our commitment to safety by adhering to all plant health, safety, and environmental guidelines and effectively troubleshooting equipment issues.

It’s Better with Bakelite: Our Commitment Back to You

• You’ll Help Shape Our Future. As a Bakelite associate, you’re part of a diverse, global population creating the next generation of the company and we expect you to put your fingerprint on it.
• We Champion Our Associates. At Bakelite, you don’t just climb the career ladder – you pave your personal path through continued learning and development.
• Together, We Will Protect the Planet. From our processes to our products, we are focusing on the opportunities that both grow our profitability as a company, and improve and protect the planet.
• Safety is a Core Value. At Bakelite, safety is a 24/7 mindset. We are all safe today to ensure we are able to show up tomorrow – for our families and friends, for each other and for our communities.
• We Care. Plain and simple, we care about our associates. From the top on down, we place a high value on our culture and the associate experience. We offer competitive compensation, robust benefits and support our associates every step of their career.

Life in Conway

Located in the eastern part of the state, Conway is a small North Carolina town within 100 miles of Richmond, Norfolk-Virginia Beach and the Raleigh-Durham area.

• Our Conway team has strong ties to the local community. We recently sponsored the town’s annual charity golf tournament, and several of our associates are active in the volunteer Conway Fire Department, to which Bakelite donates essential emergency services equipment.
• A nearby attraction is the Roanoke River, which flows across North Carolina’s coastal plain and is home to lots of wildlife, including more than 200 species of birds. You can also explore the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail, which highlights the historical significance the canal system played in westward expansion and trade.

• Learn more about Conway

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Here are your primary responsibilities:

• Loading and unloading raw materials and finished goods in accordance with customer and chemical specifications. Training and skill development to advance in production, learning to operate and monitor chemical reaction process to manufacture polymer resins, industrial chemicals and raw materials.
• Monitoring equipment and performing minor troubleshooting to ensure optimal production and minimal downtime.
• Using a computer to document data such as shipping and receiving information and manufacturing processes.
• Working in outside weather conditions as well as in an industrial environment, at heights and in confined spaces.
• Adhering to all plant health, safety, and environmental guidelines, policies and procedures by wearing necessary Personal Protection equipment (PPE), i.e., hard hats, safety glasses, face shield, chemical suit, respirator, ear plugs, hearing protection, steel-toe boots or safety shoes and other PPE required by specific jobs.
• Meeting and exceeding production goals while maintaining a focus on safety, meeting the physical and safety requirements of the job, and working a rotating shift schedule in a 24/7 operations, including nights, weekends and holidays.

What is Needed to be Successful in this Role

(Required Skills/Abilities)

• High school diploma or GED.
• Experience operating a forklift.
• At least two (2) years of continuous employment in the last four (4) years preferred.
• One (1) year or more of experience in an industrial, warehouse, military, farming, construction, mechanical or production environment.
• One (1) year or more of experience using a computer or tablet to record information and using a computer for data entry of record keeping documentation, shipping and receiving information, or manufacturing processes documentation.