Processing Line Operator

Upstate Niagara Cooperative; Oatka (NY); On-site; USD 32,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pay during training: $23.00/hour

Raise to $30.50/hour after training

Job summary

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest dairy cooperatives delivering fresh, local dairy products through trusted brands. The role supports safe, high-quality milk processing across shifts and weekends, with training pay and potential raises as you progress.

You will perform SAP ERP transactions, diagnose issues, and complete daily reports while maintaining clean, safe production environments.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of dairy processing experience preferred.
• Must be able to work all shifts including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Perform ERP system transactions in SAP.
• Diagnose problems and take appropriate action.
• Perform changeovers in assigned work areas.
• Complete daily Shift Report and collect production line paperwork.
• Perform cleaning procedures and inspect equipment to maintain safe food processing expectations.
• Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned by Management/Supervision including Work Group Leads and Trainers.

Skills

Safety awareness

Attention to cleanliness

Food quality mindset

Reading and writing

Math calculations

Dependable work ethic

Physical stamina

Vision capabilities

Tools

SAP ERP

Job description

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

Must be able to work Weekends and Holidays. Must be available for all shifts (1st, 2nd, & 3rd)

Job Summary:

• Perform ERP system transactions in SAP
• Ability to diagnose problems and take appropriate action.
• Ability to perform changeovers in assigned work areas.
• Complete daily Shift Report and collect production line paperwork.
• Perform cleaning procedures and inspect equipment to maintain safe food processing expectations.
• Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned by Management/Supervision including Work Group Leads and Trainers.

Key Responsibilities:

Milk Processing: Must be knowledgeable about milk, milk composition, milk fractions (cream, protein, etc.) and milk chemistry.

• In Receiving Bay:
  • Receiving raw dairy products from tankers to storage vessels
  • Distribution of raw dairy products from storage vessels to processing systems.
  • Load out liquid dairy products from storage/processing systems to tankers.
  • Cleaning procedures, operating clean-in-place (CIP) systems and inspection of tankers, pipeline circuits and associated vessels/processing equipment associated with tankers.
  • Manually clean the outside of all equipment, walls, and floors in work area at a frequency sufficient to maintain them in clean condition.
• Learn and demonstrate knowledge of process systems flows during production and CIP, including:
  • Liquid dairy products to, through, and from all vessels (tanks & silos), pasteurizers, evaporators, and ultra-filtration membrane systems.
  • Operating all CIP systems utilized for cleaning pipeline circuits, tanks, silos and associated equipment.
  • Support efforts of your fellow Processing Line Operators.
  • Clean outside of all equipment, walls, and floors in the work area you are assigned to with a frequency sufficient to maintain them in clean condition.
• In Processing Area:
  • Learn and demonstrate knowledge of process system flows, including:
• Liquid milk products to and from Unit #7 HTST/Separation/Ultra Filtered (UF) system and associated pipeline circuits, tanks, silos and associated equipment.
• Liquid milk products to, throughout and from the ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis systems and associated pipeline circuits, tanks, silos and associated equipment.
• Operating all clean-in-place systems utilized for cleaning milk processing systems including pipeline circuits, tanks, silos and associated equipment
• You are required to manually clean the outside of all equipment, walls, and floors in the work area you are assigned to, at a frequency that is sufficient to maintain them in a clean condition.

Qualifications:

Experience: 1+ years of dairy processing experience preferred

Skills:

• Strong attention to safety, cleanliness, and food quality
• Ability to read, write, and perform math calculations
• Dependable and reliable work ethic
• Regularly required to stand; walk; bend; reach
• Must regularly lift and /or move up to 15 pounds
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds
• Good visual acuity including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus

Physical Demands:

• Working at heights (stairs, ladders, platforms)
• Must wear required PPE and follow safety/security protocols
• Lifting up to 60 lbs. (100 lbs. in some areas)

Schedule:

• Must be available to work ANY shift – Days, Evenings, and Nights.
• Must be available to work weekends and holidays.

Pay: $23.00/hour during training, increasing to $30.50/hour upon successful completion of training.

*The hourly rate as indicated in the CBA. The posted pay rate reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.