Senior Operator

Maple-Leaf-Foods-3d9889c; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Mental health resources

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Job summary

Maple Leaf Foods in Seattle is seeking a Senior Operator to keep production running safely, efficiently, and to quality standards. You will operate and troubleshoot equipment, support changeovers, and help guide team members on the floor.

The role is 5 days per week, 8 hours per shift, starting around 11:00am, with overtime and weekend shifts possible. Base wage is $25.58 per hour, with comprehensive benefits and strict adherence to GMP/HACCP and food-safety protocols.

Qualifications

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Able to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with attention to safety and quality.
• Basic computer skills for data entry and production system navigation.
• Commitment to food safety, GMPs, HACCP, and regulatory compliance.
• Willingness to learn new equipment (e.g., electric pallet jack) and equipment operations.

Responsibilities

• Operate and troubleshoot production equipment including packaging systems.
• Perform quality checks and metal detector verification per HACCP and GMP standards.
• Coordinate with maintenance, QA, and leadership to minimize downtime.
• Assist with line coordination and staffing as backup to leads/supervisors.
• Use SAP and SAP ECP to complete production transactions and inventory movements.

Skills

English communication

Team collaboration

Mechanical aptitude

Attention to detail

Willingness to learn

Tools

SAP

Job description

• State/Province / État/Province: Washington

Company Description

About Us

We’re a carbon-neutral food company on a mission to Raise the Good in Food—through better nutrition, safer workplaces, and sustainability efforts that protect our planet. Our Seattle facility is proudly dedicated exclusively to the production of our high-quality, plant-based brands. Join us and help build a better future.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Senior Operator helps keep production running safely, efficiently, and to quality standards by operating and troubleshooting equipment, completing production transactions, supporting changeovers and quality checks, and helping guide team members on the floor.

Shift Details: 5 days per week, 8 hours per shift, with start times around 11:00am. Start times are subject to change. Additional hours and weekend shifts may be required.

Base Wage: $25.58 per hour

Core Duties

• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices following all sanitation and process procedures and guidelines and reference SOP’s where applicable
• Communicate effectively with operators, maintenance, quality assurance, warehouse personnel, and leadership teams while maintaining safe work practices and proper use of required PPE in all production areas
• Conduct required quality checks and metal detector verification checks in accordance with food safety, quality, regulatory, GMP, HACCP, sanitation, and company standards
• Identify equipment or process issues, take appropriate corrective action, and anticipate operational needs to minimize downtime and maintain production flow
• Operate, monitor, adjust, and troubleshoot production equipment, including Multivac packaging systems, slicers, peelers, and metal detectors, while performing equipment setup, film changes, product changeovers, and routine adjustments to maintain efficiency and product quality
• Serve as a backup to Production Leads and Supervisors by assisting with line coordination, staffing adjustments, communication, issue escalation, and day-to-day production support
• Support multiple production areas and assigned equipment as needed to meet production schedules, changing operational needs, and business demands in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Train and mentor team members on equipment operation, safety requirements, GMPs, quality standards, and standard work procedures
• Utilize SAP and SAP ECP to complete production transactions, inventory movements, scanning, material issuance, production reporting, records, and other required operational documentation
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English
• Ability to think ahead, adapt to changing priorities, and support line coordination as a backup to Production Leads or Supervisors when needed
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining productivity, accuracy, safety, and attention to detail
• Basic computer skills, including data entry and navigation of production systems
• Commitment to product quality, food safety, sanitation, GMPs, HACCP requirements, and regulatory compliance
• Strong communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills with the ability to train, mentor, and support team members
• Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to identify issues, troubleshoot, and take corrective action with minimal supervision
• Willingness to learn new equipment, processes, and material handling responsibilities, including electric pallet jack operation and Company-provided certification
• Preferred; training may be provided: Experience operating and troubleshooting production equipment such as Multivac packaging systems, slicers, peelers, and metal detectors
• Preferred; training may be provided: Working knowledge of SAP and SAP ECP, including scanning, material issuance, inventory movements, and production transactions

Additional Information

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Lift, carry, and move items weighing up to 50 pounds, with team assistance as needed
• Perform continuous physical activities throughout the shift, including use of hands and arms, repetitive movements, reaching, bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, lifting, and handling materials and products
• Safely work around moving production equipment, conveyors, carts, racks, pallet jacks, and production tools
• Stand and walk on concrete or production flooring for the majority of an 8-hour shift, plus any required overtime, while maintaining productivity in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Wear and maintain required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including company-approved safety footwear, hairnets, beard nets, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, smocks, and other job‑specific safety equipment
• Work in temperature‑controlled environments that may include hot, cold, refrigerated, wet, and humid conditions while maintaining attention to detail and adherence to quality standards

Benefits

• Hired employees are eligible on the first of the month following hire for Kaiser medical and prescription coverage, Guardian dental PPO (with an annual $1,500 maximum), Guardian vision, and company‑paid life insurance.
• We also provide a 100% company match on your first 4% of 401(k) contributions, free 24/7 mental health counseling through ComPsych and Inkblot, and exclusive lifestyle discounts via BenefitHub.
• Frontline employees receive 10 paid corporate holidays alongside a frontloaded bank of 80 hours of total paid time off (PTO) per year, with usage eligibility beginning after 90 days of continuous employment.
• As this position is located in Washington State, hourly employees accrue paid sick time at a rate of 1 hour for every 40 hours worked under Washington Paid Sick Leave, which is tracked as a protected subset of your total 80‑hour PTO bank.

Facility Closure Notice

Maple Leaf Foods has announced its current plan to cease operations at this facility on or around approximately 12‑18 months. Accordingly, employment in this role is expected to be time limited. Eligible employees who remain actively employed through the facility’s final operating date may be eligible to receive retention and separation benefits under a Company‑sponsored program. Any such benefits will be governed exclusively by the applicable written program terms, including eligibility requirements, and may be amended, modified, or discontinued by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by law. This posting does not create a contract of employment or guarantee employment, compensation, benefits, continued operations, or any particular facility closing date. Employment remains at will, where permitted by applicable law.

Disclaimer

AI will not be used in any part of the recruitment process (screening, assessment, or selection).All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
We champion diversity and inclusion as part of our purpose and vision, living our Leadership Values and driving results. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship or immigration status, the presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability (subject to food safety and regulatory restrictions within manufacturing zones).
In compliance with the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC 14.04), authorization to work will also be evaluated without regard to caste, political ideology, de facto parental status, or an individual’s status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired.