Process Operator II

EMEA3 Recruitment; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Symrise in Columbus, GA seeks a Process Operator II to provide advanced manufacturing support for dry blend processing and packaging. You will operate and optimize equipment, maintain quality, and document production while mentoring less experienced coworkers.

The role emphasizes GMP, food safety, sanitation, and accurate record-keeping, with first-shift schedule, overtime possible, and opportunities to grow within a global fragrance and flavor leader.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 3+ years of production, machine operation, food manufacturing, dry blend, chemical, or related manufacturing experience.
• Demonstrated experience setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting processing or packaging equipment.
• Strong knowledge of GMP, food safety, sanitation, quality, material traceability, and production documentation requirements.
• Ability to interpret batch records, formulas, production schedules, product specifications, and equipment procedures.
• Proficiency with production calculations, weighing, measuring, and inventory or production transactions.
• Ability to train and guide less experienced team members without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, communication, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead equipment setup, startup, operation, changeover, and shutdown activities for dry blend processing and packaging lines.
• Monitor process parameters, equipment performance, material usage, and production output to support safe and efficient execution.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and help resolve routine equipment, process, material, and product issues within established procedures and escalation requirements.
• Interpret production schedules, batch records, formulas, specifications, and process instructions to organize work and support production priorities.
• Verify material identity, lot control, weighing, sequencing, and additions to support accuracy, traceability, and product quality.
• Perform and verify in-process quality checks, product sampling, calculations, and production documentation.
• Review completed production records for accuracy and completeness and help correct documentation issues before submission.
• Coordinate material, equipment, labor, and line readiness with production, warehouse, quality, sanitation, and maintenance personnel.
• Support complex changeovers, equipment adjustments, cleaning verification, and return-to-service activities.
• Train and mentor less experienced operators on equipment operation, standard procedures, GMP, food safety, sanitation, documentation, and safe work practices.
• Serve as an experienced resource for process questions, equipment operation, production requirements, and procedural consistency.
• Support investigations into process deviations, quality concerns, equipment issues, production losses, and inventory variances by providing accurate operational information.
• Participate in process improvement, waste reduction, equipment reliability, safety, quality, and productivity initiatives.
• Promote compliance with allergen control, product segregation, foreign material prevention, housekeeping, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Communicate production status, issues, corrective actions, and shift priorities clearly to supervision and team members.

Job description

About us

Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances and flavors, cosmetic active ingredients as well as functional ingredients. Its customers include perfume, cosmetics, food and beverage manufacturers, the pharmaceutical industry and producers of dietary supplements and pet food.

With sales of around €5.0 billion in the 2024 financial year, the company is one of the world's leading providers. The Group, headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, has more than 100 locations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, the USA and Latin America.

Together with its customers, Symrise develops new ideas and market-ready concepts for products that form an indispensable part of everyday life. Economic success and corporate responsibility are inextricably linked.

Symrise – always inspiring more...

Your role

Process Operator II - Columbus, GA

Position Summary

The Process Operator II provides advanced manufacturing support at the Columbus, Georgia Dry Blend facility through equipment setup and operation, process monitoring, troubleshooting, quality verification, production documentation, and adherence to GMP and food safety requirements. This experienced role supports process optimization, efficient production execution, consistent product quality, and the development of less experienced team members as the operation grows.

The Process Operator II is responsible for the advanced operation of dry blend processing and packaging equipment while ensuring compliance with quality, GMP, food safety, sanitation, and safety requirements. The position serves as a technical resource within the production team by applying strong knowledge of equipment operation, process controls, troubleshooting, documentation, and product requirements.

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform all responsibilities of the Process Operator I position and demonstrate consistent proficiency across assigned production processes.
• Lead or coordinate equipment setup, startup, operation, changeover, and shutdown activities for dry blend processing and packaging lines.
• Monitor process parameters, equipment performance, material usage, and production output to support safe and efficient execution.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and help resolve routine equipment, process, material, and product issues within established procedures and escalation requirements.
• Interpret production schedules, batch records, formulas, specifications, and process instructions to organize work and support production priorities.
• Verify material identity, lot control, weighing, sequencing, and additions to support accuracy, traceability, and product quality.
• Perform and verify in-process quality checks, product sampling, calculations, and production documentation.
• Review completed production records for accuracy and completeness and help correct documentation issues before submission.
• Coordinate material, equipment, labor, and line readiness with production, warehouse, quality, sanitation, and maintenance personnel.
• Support complex changeovers, equipment adjustments, cleaning verification, and return-to-service activities.
• Train and mentor less experienced operators on equipment operation, standard procedures, GMP, food safety, sanitation, documentation, and safe work practices.
• Serve as an experienced resource for process questions, equipment operation, production requirements, and procedural consistency.
• Support investigations into process deviations, quality concerns, equipment issues, production losses, and inventory variances by providing accurate operational information.
• Participate in process improvement, waste reduction, equipment reliability, safety, quality, and productivity initiatives.
• Promote compliance with allergen control, product segregation, foreign material prevention, housekeeping, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Communicate production status, issues, corrective actions, and shift priorities clearly to supervision and team members.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to frequently stand and walk throughout the workday and perform bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and climbing as required.
• Ability to frequently lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely use production tools, equipment, and material handling devices required for the role.

Work Schedule

• 1st shift, Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day.
• Overtime may be required based on business needs.

About you

Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Three or more years of production, machine operation, food manufacturing, dry blend, chemical, or related manufacturing experience.
• Demonstrated experience setting up, operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting processing or packaging equipment.
• Strong knowledge of GMP, food safety, sanitation, quality, material traceability, and production documentation requirements.
• Ability to interpret batch records, formulas, production schedules, product specifications, and equipment procedures.
• Proficiency with production calculations, weighing, measuring, and inventory or production transactions.
• Ability to train and guide less experienced team members without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, communication, and decision-making skills.

Preferred

• Experience in a GMP-regulated food, ingredient, flavor, chemical, or dry blend manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience training or mentoring production employees.
• Experience with SAP, an ERP system, or an electronic manufacturing documentation system.
• Forklift or powered industrial truck certification or experience.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, or process optimization activities.

Our offer

Become part of our open and transparent culture. It will give you the opportunity to flourish and to develop inspiring experiences that contribute to the health and well-being of consumers in 160 countries around the world. Putting our employees in focus fuels our strong company growth above market rates and makes us an excellent place to develop your career.

Come join us and embark on a fascinating journey with Symrise.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.