Technical Operator - AM (12 Hour) Shifts

Nestlé S.A.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly incentives

Comprehensive benefits after 30 days

Job summary

Nestlé USA is hiring a Technical Operator for AM 12-hour shifts in Kentucky. The role ensures steady dough flow, operates bakery equipment, and supports safety and quality across multiple lines.

Training on 1st/2nd/3rd shifts will be required after hire, with 12-hour AM rotation and 2-2-3 cycle for 24/7 coverage. Starting pay is $27.25 per hour with quarterly incentives and comprehensive benefits after 30 days.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent or relevant work experience.
• Ability to read scales, production documents, and lot numbers.
• Willingness to complete on-the-job safety and equipment training.

Responsibilities

• Maintain steady ingredient, dough, crust, pan, and product flow to prevent interruptions.
• Operate and monitor bakery equipment to support quality and output.
• Identify and escalate equipment, process, safety, or quality concerns promptly.
• Support sanitation, changeovers, and production readiness.

Skills

Safety mindset

Mechanical aptitude

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Team communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Panel PCs

Hertzler

SFOL

Job description

Technical Operator - AM (12 Hour) Shifts

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.

At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

The technical operator is responsible for supporting safe, efficient, and high-quality bakery production across multiple areas, including dough mixing, utility service, conveyor systems, presses, ovens, depanners, proofers, spirals, oilers, extruder depositor equipment, pan flow, sanitation, material movement, and production documentation. This role requires strong safety awareness, mechanical aptitude, attention to product quality, accurate recordkeeping, effective communication, and the ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU:

• Schedule: Will be a 12-hour shift on a rotational schedule in a 2-2-3 pattern.
  • • AM Shift: 6a-6p
• A "2-2-3 schedule" refers to a common work pattern where employees work two days, have two days off, then work three days, repeating in a 28-day cycle to provide 24/7 coverage, with 12-hour shifts, balancing work and frequent long weekends.
• Starting hourly pay of $27.25/hr
• If hired, you will be required to train on one of our three 8-hour shifts:
  • 1st (6a-2p)
  • 2nd (2p-10p)
  • 3rd (10p-6a)
• Quarterly Incentives
• Comprehensive Nestlé benefits after 30 days of employment

Overall Purpose

• Maintain steady ingredient, dough, crust, pan, and product flow to prevent production interruptions.
• Operate and monitor bakery equipment to support consistent product quality and efficient output.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and communicate equipment, process, safety, or quality concerns in a timely manner.
• Minimize downtime, waste, safety risks, and non-conforming product through proactive monitoring and accurate documentation.
• Support sanitation, changeovers, shutdowns, audits, and overall department readiness.

Safety, GMP, and Compliance

• Demonstrate and follow all safety procedures, including LOTO, gang lock, evacuation procedures, PPE requirements, safe lifting practices, safe movement around conveyors and hand jacks, and awareness of slippery floors, low-clearance equipment, pinch points, and congested work areas.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices consistently, including food safety, sanitation, allergen awareness, and Food Defense requirements.
• Use chemicals according to MSDS requirements and follow established chemical handling procedures.
• Maintain an organized and audit-ready work area to support safety, quality, and compliance expectations.

Equipment Operation and Production Flow

• Operate and monitor mixers, panel views, scales, ingredient lifts, dough chunker trolleys, transfer conveyors, extruder depositor equipment, dough ball oilers, pan oilers, presses, ovens, depanners, proofers, spirals, product conveyors, and pan conveyor systems.
• Maintain ingredient, dough, crust, pan, and product flow to support downstream production needs.
• Weigh, measure, and add correct ingredients to mixers; monitor flour, slurry, oil systems, dough ball weights, and dough quality.
• Operate equipment start-up, shutdown, production mode, changeover mode, recipe changes, run cycles, warmup functions, timers, tray rates, and fault clearing functions through panel views and related systems.
• Support crust-to-line flow, panning tables, sheeting lines, and pan flow as assigned.
• Operate forklift, hand jack, and material movement equipment as trained and authorized; complete required equipment inspections.

Quality, Troubleshooting, and Downtime Response

• Monitor product quality, dough consistency, dough shape, crust quality, pan flow, belt performance, servo performance, conveyor conditions, and system faults.
• Identify and respond to jam conditions, pan jams, dough shape issues, crust tails, out-of-spec screens, power surges, equipment failures, and other production interruptions.
• Make minor adjustments within role expectations and promptly escalated issues that require maintenance, supervision, or cross-functional support.
• Perform belt checks, conveyor inspections, equipment verifications, and quality checks to minimize downtime and prevent non-conforming product.

Documentation and Communication

• Verify correct process orders, lot numbers, resource numbers, recipes, product information, and production requirements.
• Record batch data, dump times, temperatures, lot numbers, downtime, slurry times, equipment checks, inspections, audits, and other required paperwork accurately and timely.
• Start, close, and update process orders and enter required information into systems such as panel PCs, Hertzler, SFOL, and related production systems as applicable.
• Communicate effectively with Bakery, Assembly, Utility, Mixer, Maintenance, Quality, and Supervisory teams using appropriate communication tools, including two-way radios when needed.

Sanitation, Changeovers, and Support Duties

• Clean and sanitize mixers, conveyors, catch pans, surrounding areas, floors, ingredient equipment, and assigned production areas.
• Support changeovers, shutdown procedures, mixer scraping, press die changes, depanner swaps, weight adjustments, timer resets, and equipment preparation.
• Relieve Bakery employees for breaks and provide support to Mixer Operators, Crust Packers, Utility Service, and other assigned areas.
• Replenish supplies, organize warehouse and production areas, remove waste, and assist with material movement as needed.
• Perform backup duties, cross-training assignments, and other responsibilities as required to support bakery operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred, or equivalent work experience as determined by the company.
• Basic reading, writing, computer, and math skills, including the ability to read scales, production documents, panelviews, and lot numbers.
• Ability to complete required on-the-job training, safety training, equipment sign-offs, hand jack training, and forklift certification where applicable.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, maintain regular attendance, and work independently or as part of a team.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment while remaining calm, organized, and focused on safety and quality.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong safety mindset and strict adherence to LOTO, PPE, GMP, and sanitation requirements.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to identify, troubleshoot, and communicate equipment or process concerns.
• Ability to operate panelviews, mixers, conveyors, oilers, depositor systems, ovens, proofers, depanners, scales, ingredient systems, PCs, hand jacks, and forklifts as trained.
• High attention to detail for lot tracking, process orders, documentation, product specifications, recipes, weights, temperatures, downtime, and quality checks.
• Effective communication, teamwork, judgment, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Reliability, flexibility, self-direction, and ability to support changing production needs.

Physical Requirements

• Constant standing, walking, reaching, handling materials, bending, and working near conveyors or production equipment.
• Frequent lifting or carrying up to 50 lbs, pushing or pulling carts and totes, twisting, crouching, stooping, rotating, and repetitive hand movement.
• Occasional sitting, climbing stairs or ladders, kneeling, crawling, working in low-clearance areas, and working in elevated or confined production spaces.
• Ability to use both hands and legs as needed and visually monitor product flow, equipment status, paperwork, scale readings, screens, and production conditions.
• Hearing sufficient to detect machinery alarms, belt startups, equipment changes, and verbal or radio communication in a loud environment.

Work Environment and PPE

This position works in an indoor bakery manufacturing environment with exposure to flour dust, noise up to or above 90 dBA, hot areas, cold areas, humidity changes, fluorescent lighting, flickering lights, gas vapors, compressed air, rotating equipment, slippery floors, conveyors, moving machinery, and production congestion. Required PPE may include safety glasses, hearing protection, safety shoes, gloves, cut-resistant gloves, hard hat or bump cap, face shield as needed, apron, hair net or hood, oven mitts, knee pads, and arm guards as required by task or area.

Pay:$27.25 per hour

Bonus Eligibility:Yes

The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.

Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more athttps://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at [e-mail] or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.