Production Operator - Planetary Recovery

Novonesis; Blair (NE); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company contribution

Paid time off

Job summary

Novonesis is hiring a Production Operator for the Planetary Recovery Department in Blair, NE. You will help set up, monitor, and maintain fermentation-based processes, ensuring safety and quality in a biotech factory environment.

Responsibilities include preparing materials, operating plant systems, and performing minor repairs. This role requires lifting, PPE usage, and the ability to work 12-hour day/night rotations between two weeks and three weeks patterns.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of industrial manufacturing experience preferred.
• Proficient computer literacy.
• Ability to move freely around the factory and outdoor surroundings, including pushing, pulling, kneeling, and squatting.
• Ability to lift up to 60 pounds unassisted.
• Ability to manually manipulate and operate equipment and tools (e.g., turning valves, aligning hoses).
• Use of PPE including uniform, hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, hair net, beard net, and respirator.
• Ability to climb stairs and work at heights (ladders, platforms, tanks).
• Ability to enter and work in confined spaces.
• Ability to pass a written test for certification purposes.

Responsibilities

• Preparing raw materials
• Troubleshooting equipment
• Operating plant processing computers
• Making minor repairs and replacing parts
• Testing materials for quality and compliance

Skills

Proficient computer literacy

Ability to move freely

Lift up to 60 pounds

Climb stairs and heights

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

3+ years of industrial manufacturing experience

Job description

Interested in a career that matters? Join us as our new Production Operator in the Planetary Recovery Department. Our Production Operators at Novonesis are skilled workers tasked with setting up, monitoring, and maintaining equipment and processes in our industrial biotechnology factory. Our industrial biotechnology factory uses microbes (living organisms found in nature) to produce BioSolutions—enzymes produced by fermenting and feeding microbes—and proteins used as food ingredients. These BioSolutions support a wide range of industries, including food, household care, animal nutrition, and biofuels. The Role & Your Impact In this role, you'll ensure safety, quality, and compliance of our production processes.

Daily responsibilities include:

• Preparing raw materials
• Troubleshooting equipment
• Operating plant processing computers
• Making minor repairs and replacing parts
• Testing materials for quality and compliance

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 3+ years of industrial manufacturing experience preferred
• Proficient computer literacy
• Ability to move freely around the factory and outdoor surroundings, including pushing, pulling, kneeling, and squatting
• Ability to lift up to 60 pounds unassisted
• Ability to manually manipulate and operate equipment and tools (e.g., turning valves, aligning hoses)
• Use of PPE including uniform, hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, hair net, beard net, and respirator
• Ability to climb stairs and work at heights (ladders, platforms, tanks)
• Ability to enter and work in confined spaces
• Ability to pass a written test for certification purposes

Ways of Working / Working Conditions

Schedule: 12-hour shifts alternating between days & nights every 2 weeks (6:30–7:00 am/pm) 2‑2‑3 rotation: Week 1: Work Mon–Tue, off Wed–Thu, work Fri–Sun Week 2: Off Mon–Tue, work Wed–Thu, off Fri–Sun

Additional Information

Overtime is frequently available

Mandatory Certification program with promotion opportunities to Operator II and Senior Operator

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly Pay: $25.05 base rate $3/hr night shift differential 1.5× Sunday pay rate
• Benefits you will enjoy:
  • 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution
  • Minimum of 3 weeks of vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
  • Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
  • Healthcare savings account option
  • Employee assistance program
  • Parental leave
  • All benefits begin on your first day

Our purpose guides the way

In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we've gotten so far. And it’s how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless.

Opportunities for everyone

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants. Therefore we ask you to apply without a cover letter or photo and instead include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying. We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

In 2024, Chr. Hansen and Novozymes joined forces to form Novonesis. We are 10,000 people worldwide whose expertise spans more than 30 different industries. All around the world our biosolutions already create value for thousands of customers and benefit the planet. Our biosolutions enable feeding and fueling the world more sustainably, from healthy and sustainable nutrition to biofuel. Our biosolutions also reduce the use of fossil-based resources, chemicals, energy and water. And this is just the beginning.