OW Oven Operator - 3rd Shift (2423)

Carl Buddig and Company; Illinois; On-site; USD 25,571 - 36,420; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Training and Development

Vacation & PTO

Referral Bonus Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Carl Buddig and Company, located in Montgomery, IL, is seeking a full-time Oven Operator. This role is essential for coordinating workloads, ensuring product quality, and meeting customer standards in the meat manufacturing sector.

The ideal candidate will have experience in HACCP compliance and a strong attention to detail. Benefits include competitive pay, medical and dental coverage, 401(k), and more.

Qualifications

• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Oral and written communication with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate workload and support team delivery.
• Follow HACCP program and document checks.
• Train new employees in job duties.

Skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Professional communication

Attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple tasks

Teamwork

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Montgomery, IL 60538
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $22.50 - $22.50 Hourly
Job Shift: 3rd
Job Category: Manufacture & Operations

About Us

Carl Buddig and Company, a respected name in the meat manufacturing industry, boasts a legacy of over 80 years. Founded as a family‑owned company, we have evolved into a leading producer of premium meat products, including renowned lunchmeats, ready‑to‑eat cooked meats under our Kingsford, LLC division, and savory snack meats from Old Wisconsin. As a third‑generation family business, our success is anchored in our commitment to quality, innovation, and community. With a workforce of 2,500 dedicated team members spread across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, we continue to expand, driven by a vision for excellence and a responsiveness to evolving consumer preferences. At Carl Buddig and Company, we foster a culture centered around teamwork and innovation. We strive to create an environment that values creativity and collaboration, ensuring every team member is empowered to contribute to our collective goals. We actively support charitable initiatives and community organizations through direct contributions, volunteer work, and partnerships, aiming to make a positive impact and give back to the communities that have supported us over the years.

Position Summary

The Oven Operator is responsible for effectively coordinating their workload, providing support to ensure that the team delivers, monitoring any issues, and ensuring product is developed successfully and quality standards are met to meet the requirements of the customer.

Key Responsibilities

• Follow the HACCP program, including developing a working knowledge of the Critical Control Points and Critical Limits as they pertain to food safety.
• Implement proper procedures for the Smokehouse department.
• Understand GMPs, HACCP, and SQF guidelines.
• Provide proper HACCP records according to the stuffing group assigned by scheduling.
• Maintain an accurate operator oven process rotation to ensure full cross‑training is maintained.
• Document HACCP checks via red zone for record keeping as well as LSW.
• Perform product checks during shift (oven temperature check, powis graphs, pH monitoring CCP1, temperature check for CCP2 lethality stage).
• Perform direct observations during cooking cycle.
• Perform pre‑flight oven checks before every smokehouse load.
• Conduct Safety/SQF monthly training.
• Add/Create oven department schedules to ensure all products are cooked and completed in a timely fashion.
• Perform daily oven cleans after cooking cycles.
• Analyze situations to provide solutions that are in the best interest of the company.
• Maintain accurate smoking records and reports.
• Monitor smokehouse department employees’ progress on assigned tasks.
• Make decisions pertaining to production errors and deviations.
• Participate in the monthly inventory process.
• Maintain a safe work environment by watching out for foot traffic, following standards and procedures, and complying with legal regulations per all forklift operations.
• Evaluate daily overhead to ensure accurate staffing.
• Assign and provide directions on daily tasks to other smokehouse department employees.
• Perform monthly cooler deep cleans based on SSOP requirements.
• Ensure that employees are abiding by all Carl Buddig and Company policies via the Employee Handbook and Safety Manual.
• Train new and existing employees in the required job duties.
• Perform monthly cabin deep cleans.
• Maintain work‑area in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Conduct performance reviews of employees as needed.
• Use a check‑weigh scale and conduct data entry in Knowledge Mine/Redzone (quality checks, OEE tracking, packaging pallet entries, etc.).
• Document inedible tracking.
• Create OPL, center lines, SOPs as needed.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Department Manager and/or Supervisor.

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Professional communication with cross‑functional departments.
• Sense of urgency, attention to accuracy, and detail.
• Oral and written communication with people at all organizational levels.
• Ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously with rapidly changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively and effectively as part of a team.

Working Conditions

• Work in temperatures of 40 degrees or less.
• Stand for 10 hours per day.
• Bend, stoop, and squat as needed for housekeeping responsibilities and other duties.
• Work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Lift up to 60 pounds.
• Work 40 or more hours per week.
• Work mandatory overtime if necessary.
• High attention to detail (e.g., meat type/film/date) and good hand/eye coordination.
• Adhere to GMPs.

Pay & Benefits

Pay range for this position is $22.50 to $22.50 depending on experience.

Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Training and Development, Vacation & PTO, Referral Bonus Program, and Tuition Reimbursement.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Decisions Statement

Carl Buddig and Company does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, promotion, performance evaluations, discipline, or termination. All employment decisions are made by trained HR professionals and company leaders to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act.