Tower Operator (Cheese, Days)

Hilmar Cheese Company; Dodge City (KS); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilmar Cheese Company is seeking a Tower Operator to run and maintain cheese towers and related equipment at our production facility. The role emphasizes food safety, sanitation, and adherence to procedures while supporting daily operations and product safety.

The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or GED, be able to lift up to 60 lbs, and work 12-hour shifts including weekends and overtime as needed. SAP experience is a plus, and dairy manufacturing background is valued.

Qualifications

• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English.
• Basic computer skills are required to operate processing and control systems.
• Must be able to work 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends, holidays and overtime as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs.

Responsibilities

• To run and maintain Cheese towers and related equipment.
• Ensure correct operation and follow Procedures of the Typical Day assigned equipment.
• Identify flows from HCV's to packaging and complete Product Transitions.
• Troubleshoot and communicate Plant issues with related equipment and Process.
• Maintain operation and sanitation of equipment including CIP and COP systems.
• Assist with in-process sampling and communicate safety or quality issues to leadership.
• Learn and operate computer related processes and controls.
• Ensure proper product handling and reforming procedures.
• Participate in training, buddy training, and related activities.
• Prioritize food safety and sanitation and report incidents to leadership.

Skills

English proficiency

Basic computer skills

12-hour shifts

Lift up to 60 lbs

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

SAP experience

Job description

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At Hilmar Cheese Company we improve lives around the world through wholesome dairy products. Since our founding in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company has been committed to innovation and sustainability. Our state-of-the art production facilities convert an abundance of locally sourced high-quality milk into a variety of nutritious cheeses, whey protein and lactose. The Cheese and Ingredients that we produce create a wide variety of retail and food service products from sliced and shredded cheeses, to protein supplements and infant formula. We are a trusted partner to premier food and beverage brands in more than fifty countries helping bring their vision into reality.

Throughout our decades of success and growth we have remained committed to our mission and values and these principles unite our people and guide all that we do.

A Typical Day

The primary responsibilities of the Tower Operator are to run and maintain Cheese towers and related equipment.

Job Responsibilities

• To ensure the correct operation and follow all Procedures of the Typical Day assigned equipment.
• Ability to identify flows from HCV's to packaging including completing Product Transitions
• Troubleshoot and communicate any Plant issues with related equipment and/or Process
• Understand and maintain the operation and Sanitation of all Typical Day equipment including: CIP (Clean In Place) system, COP (clean out of place systems), Operator Based Maintenance and Pre and post CIP inspections
• All In Process Sampling as assigned
• To notify/communicate with management/maintenance any problems with equipment or processes that could affect Safety, Food Safety or quality.
• Ability to learn and operate computer related processes and controls.
• Responsible for proper product safe handling and reforming procedures
• Active participation and ownership in your training and development program and associated activities, classes and events, which will be held before, during, after shifts and during scheduled days off.
• Help coach and train teammates and participate in on the job, buddy training.
• Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC's food safety and sanitation policies and procedures. This includes communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates and participating in food safety and sanitation root cause analysis and improvement activities when required.
• Prioritize safety above all other job duties by always having a safety-first approach. This includes reporting any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up.
  

What You Will Need

• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English
• Basic computer skills
• Must be able to work 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends, holidays and overtime as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 60lbs
  

What Will Put You Ahead

• High School diploma or GED from an accredited institution
• SAP experience
• Dairy manufacturing experience

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to:

• Stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and talk or hear.
• Stand and walk almost the entire workday.
• Employees must be physically capable of working in any of the job tasks within their respective area.
• Required to work at heights and in fairly small areas.
• Pushing, pulling, reaching, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, handling and grasping, twisting/turning, repetitive bending.

Food safety is a companywide responsibility and each employee must know their role in the manufacture and distribution of safe, wholesome, and high quality products.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/EEO. We participate in E-Verify.