Operator Trainee - Paper Bowl - Night

Jimmy Jazz; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Sabert is a leading global manufacturer of innovative food packaging solutions. The Paper Bowl Machine Operator role ensures safe, efficient operation, quality control, and basic maintenance of paper bowl equipment in a fast-paced plant environment.

The position requires a high school diploma or GED and 2+ years in a similar role; experience with SAP/Excel and training of assistants is expected. Strong safety awareness and ability to work with PPE are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred; relevant work experience required.
• 2+ years of experience in a fast-paced work environment; paper industry preferred.
• Previous experience operating paper bowl machinery preferred.
• Proficiency with hand tools and ability to operate them effectively.
• Ability to read and comprehend safety rules, internal quality procedures, and operating procedures.
• Ability to communicate production issues to supervisors and colleagues.
• Basic mathematics and counting skills.
• Mandatory PPE: safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes.

Responsibilities

• Operate and lead paper bowl machines to ensure safe, continuous production.
• Perform machine setups, adjustments, and basic troubleshooting to minimize downtime.
• Monitor machine performance and product quality against targets.
• Coordinate material flow and supply raw materials, rolls, and blanks.
• Provide hands-on support to assistants during start-ups, jams, and repairs.
• Train and coach new Operators on safety, quality, and operation procedures.
• Prepare and submit daily production reports to the Supervisor.
• Maintain accurate production, downtime, and scrap records in SAP/Excel.

Skills

Hand tools

Machine operation

Reading comprehension

Communication

Mathematics

Safety PPE

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

• Job Category Production Technical
• Employee Type Non-Exempt FT Hourly

Description

The Paper Bowl Machine Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient operation, monitoring, and basic maintenance of paper bowl equipment. This role ensures the production of high-quality paper bowls by maintaining equipment performance, enforcing quality standards, documenting production activity, and complying with all safety and regulatory requirements.

Essential Job Functions

Operation

• Lead and operate all paper bowl machines to ensure safe, efficient, continuous production
• Perform machine setups, adjustments, and advanced troubleshooting to minimize downtime
• Monitor machine performance, product quality, and production targets across all machines
• Ensure machines are supplied by coordinating and delivering raw materials, paper rolls, and blanks
• Provide operational support or operate any machine as required to maintain continuous production
• Provide hands‑on support to Assistant Operators during start‑ups, jams, adjustments, and troubleshooting
• Assign and manage break schedules to maintain uninterrupted production
• Operate a forklift in accordance with company policies and safety procedures

Quality Control

• Inspect finished products to ensure quality standards and specifications are met
• Print and verify labels for all finished pallets from all machines
• Ensure scrap is removed, emptied, and transported to the trailer properly
• Accurately track scrap and enter data into SAP

Maintenance

• Coordinate preventive maintenance (PM) activities and communicate equipment issues to Maintenance and Supervisors
• Perform basic machine repairs
• Clean bottom oil filters
• Add and empty white mineral oil
• Adjust and repair tape machines
• Adjust feeding section fingers, belts, and sensors
• Communicate effectively with Maintenance to repair or replace broken parts

Support

• Support, coordinate, and assign Assistant Operators to each machine
• Train and coach Assistant Operators on safe work practices, quality standards, and machine operation
• Train new employees in machine operation and safety procedures
• Prepare and submit daily production reports to the Supervisor

Compliance/Other Tasks

• Verify Assistant Operators consistently c omply with all company policies and procedures including GMP, PPE, HACCP, LOTO, and JSA regulations.
• Maintain accurate production, downtime, and scrap records in SAP and/or Excel.
• Use SAP to add materials to work orders using scanners and computer systems; confirm work orders and put-away transactions; check and update inventory accuracy; and schedule work orders while properly coding downtime.
• Enter and manage production data using Excel.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires frequent use of hands and arms to grasp, position, and move products or materials. The role involves repetitive hand motions, coordinated use of both hands and arms, and reaching in multiple directions. Duties include prolonged periods of standing, as well as bending, stooping, and twisting. Movement throughout the work area is required on a regular basis.
• Occasional activities include ascending and descending stairs, pushing and pulling objects, lifting and positioning items weighing up to 50 pounds, and verbal communication.
• Vision requirements may include close and distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Other

• Work in accordance with all company policies and procedures regarding employment, safety, quality, product safety and legality, security, and regulatory compliance as applicable.

Requirements

Education

High school diploma or GED preferred. Relevant work experience, skills, and knowledge are required.

Experience

2+ year of experience multi-tasking in a fast-paced work environment, paper industry preferred. Previous experience operating paper bowl machinery preferred.

Other Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Proficiency in the use of hand tools and the ability to operate them effectively.
• Knowledge of machine operation and electronic and/or manual machine controls to operate the machine and run production.
• Able to read, understand and comprehend documents such as safety rules, internal quality procedures, and machine operating procedures.
• Able to communicate production issues to supervisors and others in work area.
• Basic mathematics (i.e. counting).
• Safety glasses with side shields, hearing protection, and steel-toed shoes are required. In addition, task specific PPE may be required.
• Our Manufacturing plant is not environmentally controlled. Changes in humidity and temperature occur throughout the year.

Summary

What makes Sabert a great place to work:

Pay, benefits and more.

Sabert is eager to attract the best, so we offer competitive compensation and a generous benefits package, including full health insurance (medical, dental and vision), 401(k), life insurance, disability and more.

Learn More About Sabert:

We are a leading global manufacturer of innovative food packaging products and solutions. The company was founded in 1983 grounded in the purpose of reinventing food packaging to nourish and protect our world.Today we design, manufacture, and distribute a wide spectrum of packaging solutions for food distributors, restaurants & caterers, grocery stores, national food chains and consumer entertaining.

Want more insight on what it’s like to work for Sabert?

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodation for applicants with special needs or disabilities during our recruiting process, to learn more about accommodations please call [phone] or [e-mail] for assistance.

Sabert Corporation is an equal employment opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, marital status, being a qualified individual with a disability, protected veteran status, political belief or activity, or any other basis prohibited by law or regulation.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work legally in the United States for Sabert. Sabert will not commence an employment-based immigration case to fill this open position