Plant Production Operator (Cheese, Nights)

Hilmar Cheese Company; Dodge City (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilmar Cheese Company seeks a Plant Production Operator to run and maintain cheese production lines and packaging equipment. You will follow procedures, complete inspections, and assist with specialty products according to the production schedule.

Requirements include English proficiency, ability to work 12-hour shifts, and basic computer skills. SAP experience and dairy manufacturing background are a plus. The role emphasizes safety, sanitation, and continuous training.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• 2 years of dairy manufacturing experience preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs and work 12-hour shifts.

Responsibilities

• Run and maintain Cheese towers, Pepper Feeders and related equipment.
• Follow procedures and complete daily documentation and inspections.
• Assist Parmesan, Romano and peppers per production schedule.
• Identify flows from high-value components to packaging.
• Troubleshoot equipment and communicate plant issues with maintenance.
• Maintain CIP and COP sanitation and post-CIP inspections.
• Participate in training, buddy shifts and safety activities.
• Prioritize food safety and sanitation per policies.

Skills

English proficiency

Shift flexibility

Basic computer skills

Lift 60 lbs

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

SAP experience

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

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to:

• 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.