Production Associate I - Stuff

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Junction City (KS); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking General Production team members in Junction City, KS, to help deliver safe, high-quality meat products to families across America.

You will work with hand tools, knives and machinery on a fast-paced production line, following safety procedures and supporting your teammates to meet daily targets. Requirements include being at least 18 years old, ability to stand for long shifts, and willingness to work overtime when needed.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Stand for up to a 12-hour shift on concrete or platforms.
• Able to work with knives, hand tools and machinery.
• Physically demanding work with potential overtime depending on production demands.
• Follow oral and written instructions accurately.

Responsibilities

• Operate hand tools, knives and production machinery to process meat products.
• Help maintain a safe, clean and efficient production line.
• Support teammates to meet safety, quality and production targets.

Skills

Reliability

Attention to detail

Strong work ethic

Teamwork

Manual dexterity

Tools

Hand tools

Knife handling

Machinery operation

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

The Value You’ll Bring As a General Production team member at Smithfield Foods, you’ll play a key role in delivering safe, high-quality food by performing essential production tasks and supporting your coworkers. Your reliability, attention to detail, and strong work ethic will help us meet our standards for safety, quality, and teamwork every day. You’ll contribute to a positive work environment, help maintain a safe and efficient production line, and ensure our products reach families across America. Your dedication and willingness to learn will make a real difference—both to your team and to our mission of delivering good food, responsibly.

General Production employees will work with hand tools, knives, machinery and other equipment to process meat products for the consumer. These positions can be physically demanding and require good hand-eye coordination, and attention to detail. Production team members must be able to work their scheduled shift and may be required to work overtime depending on production demands.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Perform a task requiring continuous/repetitive movement, including grasping, pinching hands, flexing, and extending arms
• Stand on concrete and/or platforms for up to a 12-hour shift
• Work around animal blood and/or carcass parts
• Work with a knife (if trained)
• Work in cold areas (approximately 20-40 degrees) and/orwarm areas (over 100 degrees)
• Work in an environment that is wet and humid
• Work while wearing a hard hat, hearing/eye protection, and steel-toed safety shoes
• Work in a noisy environment using personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Work with sanitation/cleaning chemicals
• Work around strong smells/odors
• Climb/move on ladders, steps, stairways, walkways and platforms
• Bend, stoop, and twist repetitively over the course of an entire shift
• Walk long distances
• May require certification in order to operate various pieces of equipment required for the position

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

IndSPR-Ops EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

About Smithfield

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Headquartered inSmithfield, Virginia,since 1936,Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.