Plant Operator - Drum Operator (Days)

Heartland Farms, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Tier Ingredients, LLC is seeking a Plant Operator - Drum Operator to run a potato-dehydrating drum line, ensuring product quality and adherence to Top Tier specifications. The role emphasizes safety, sanitation, and efficient operation throughout long shifts in a manufacturing environment.

The operator is responsible for maintaining mash flow, adjusting equipment, and following strict GMPs to minimize waste and defects while safeguarding personnel and product integrity.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with the potato dehydration process is helpful.
• Must be able to follow operational instructions closely.
• Previous experience working around food processing equipment is preferred.
• Knowledge of cleaning and sanitation.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an adequate and consistent flow of mash; adjust feed auger and roller adjustments.
• Keep mash on applicator rolls and minimize defects; ensure only clean mash is used.
• Adjust rolls to reduce waste and maintain thick sheets of mash.
• Monitor product quality; notify Production Manager if out of grade.

Skills

Potato dehydration

Follow instructions

Food processing

Sanitation

Job description

Plant Operator - Drum Operator

The Plant Operator - Drum Operator's primary function involves running a potato-dehydrating drum line. Operators must always consider product quality and work towards producing a consistent product based on customer and Top Tier specifications. Personal safety must also be considered.

Qualifications

Core Responsibilities

• Responsible for maintaining an adequate and consistent flow of mash. Monitor and adjust the speed of the feed auger and roller adjustments, as well as shoveling product as needed to accomplish this.
• Ensure the drum operates efficiently and effectively by keeping plenty of mash on all applicator rolls; work clean mash-up and dirty mash-down; ensure only pure mash is on the applicator rollers to minimize defects.
• Ensure the reduction or elimination of waste/defect/throw-away by adjusting the rolls and maintaining as thick a sheet of mash as possible.
• Checks for product defects and ensures product quality standards are met. Notify the Production Manager immediately if the product is out of grade.
• Keep areas of responsibility clean and well-maintained during shift hours, and ensure the room is clean for the next shift.
• Complete all sanitation responsibilities including (but not limited to): avoiding cross-contamination; keeping all tools clean and sanitized; keeping mash pan relatively empty and in a good sanitary condition; keeping catwalks clean and free of debris; ensuring tools or shovels do not come in contact of the catwalk or other contaminated areas.
• Clean tool dip tanks twice during the shift; clean flake breaker covers every two hours; clean knives, slides, and snifter tubes once a change.
• Comply with all safety regulations; follow all plant safety and food safety policies.
• Follows all Top Tier and regulated good manufacturing practices.
• Ensures the proper blanching, cooling, and cooking for effective flake production.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Familiarity with the potato dehydration process is helpful.
• Must be able to follow operational instructions closely.
• Previous experience working around food processing equipment is preferred.
• Knowledge of cleaning and sanitation.

Education & Experience

• Minimum 1 year of related consumer food manufacturing sanitation experience preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during scheduled shifts and occasionally climb stairs, ladders, and walk on catwalks.
• Frequently lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds regularly without assistance and up to 100 libs occasionally with assistance. Must be able to shovel mash weighing 35-50 lbs regularly.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with varying temperatures, noise and moisture levels, dust, and moving equipment and machinery.
• Ability to bend, twist, stretch, reach, crawl, crouch, and perform repetitive motions for up to 12 hours.
• Must be at least 18 years old and ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Report check.
• Ability to understand and communicate instructions in written and verbal English.

Work Schedule

• Hours: 5am to 5pm. 12-hour shifts on a 2-2-3 schedule.
• The work week is 3 to 4 days with 36 to 48 hours per week. Every other weekend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.
• The work schedule can vary depending on the time of year, product demand, and sanitation schedule.

Work Location

Top Tier Ingredients is located at 941 3rd Avenue Hancock, WI 54943 in Adams County near the border of Waushara County.

The facility is approximately:

Less than 20 minutes from Bancroft, Coloma, or Plainfield.

About 30 minutes from Adams, Almond, Necedah, Nekoosa, Wautoma, Westfield, or Wild Rose.

About 35-40 minutes from Red Granite, Stevens Point, or Wisconsin Rapids.

With Top Tier Ingredients, LLC you will work as part of a high-performing food manufacturing organization where team members collaborate to get the job done and challenge the status quo to find a better way. We highly value hard work, achievement, and reliability and reward people accordingly.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, activities, and responsibilities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Top Tier Ingredients, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.