Plant Production Operator

Hilmar; Hilmar (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is seeking a Plant Production Operator to operate Cheese towers, packaging lines, and related equipment in our Hilmar facility. The role requires focus on food safety, quality, and efficiency within 12-hour shift cycles.

You will follow procedures, assist with product transitions, and maintain sanitation and documentation. The position offers steady, on-site work in California with opportunities for skill development and team coaching.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution.
• Ability to work 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends and overtime.
• Basic computer skills and English proficiency.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs.
• SAP experience preferred.
• 2 years of dairy manufacturing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate Cheese towers, Pepper Feeders and related equipment following procedures.
• Identify flows from raw materials to packaging and complete product transitions.
• Troubleshoot equipment and coordinate with related processes.
• Maintain sanitation and CIP/COP procedures and inspections.
• Perform in-process sampling and communicate safety or quality issues.
• Participate in training and coach teammates; support buddy training.
• Uphold food safety policies and participate in root cause analysis.
• Prioritize safety and report issues to leadership.

Skills

12-hour shifts

English proficiency

Basic computer skills

Lift 60 lbs

SAP experience

Dairy manufacturing

Safety teamwork

Tower/Packaging operator

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state‑of‑the‑art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.

Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.

A Typical Day

The primary responsibilities of the Plant Production Operator are to run and maintain Cheese towers, Pepper Feeders and related equipment, Sealers, Leaker Detection, Metal Detection and all Packaging equipment. Complete and maintain all Documentation and Inspections as assigned. Assist specialty products (parmesan. Romano, and peppers) as needed per production schedule.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensure the correct operation and follow all Procedures of the Typical Day assigned equipment.
• Ability to identify flows from HCV’s to packaging including completing Product Transitions
• Ability to troubleshoot and communicate any Plant issues with related equipment and/or Process
• Understand and maintain the operation and Sanitation of all Typical Day equipment including: CIP(Clean In Place) system, COP (clean out of place systems), Operator Based Maintenance and Pre and post CIP inspections
• All In Process Sampling as assigned
• To notify/communicate with management/maintenance any problems with equipment or processes that could affect Safety, Food Safety or quality.
• Ability to learn and operate computer related processes and controls.
• Responsible for proper product safe handling and reforming procedures
• Active participation and ownership in your training and development program and associated activities, classes and events, which will be held before, during, after shifts and during scheduled days off.
• Help coach and train teammates and participate in on the job, buddy training.
• Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures. This includes communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates as well as participating in food safety and sanitation root cause analysis and improvement activities when required.
• Prioritize safety above all other job duties by having a safety first approach at all times. This includes reporting any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up.

What You Will Need

• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English
• Must be able to work 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends, holidays and overtime as needed
• Basic computer skills
• Ability to lift up to 60lbs

What Will Put You Ahead

• High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution
• SAP experience
• 2 years of dairy manufacturing experience
• Active/past member of department safety team
• Skilled as a Tower Operator or Packaging Operator (level 1 roles) in Cheese Operations for 3 months

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Required

• Stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and talk or hear.
• Stand and walk almost the entire workday.
• Employees must be physically capable of working in any of the job tasks within their respective area.
• Required to work at heights and in fairly small areas.
• Pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, handling and grasping, twisting/turning, repetitive bending.

Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.

English Information | Spanish Information

null :Salary Range: USD( 25.28 -29.4 )