Utility P4

Freres Wood; Lyons (OR); On-site; USD 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Life

Short-term Disability

Selection 125

Discretionary Quarterly Profit Sharing

401 (K)

Paid time off

Holiday Pay

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Freres Engineered Wood in Lyons, Oregon is seeking a motivated utility worker for our plywood production facility. This entry-level role offers on-the-job training and exposure to multiple production tasks.

You will rotate across Dryer Feeder, Dryer Grader, and LUL Patcher, learn safety procedures, and join a team that values reliability and flexibility on a fast-paced line.

Six 8-hour shifts, six days per week, with opportunities to advance as skills grow.

Qualifications

• Physical ability to stand and lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to operate machinery with basic technology.
• Reliable, punctual, and dedicated to high-quality results.
• Adaptable to changing tasks and work environments.
• Comply with safety protocols and maintain a safe work environment.
• Awareness of hazards and proactive risk mitigation.
• Strong problem-solving skills in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Operate and feed veneer to dryers to maintain capacity.
• Grade and stack veneer for transport and later use.
• Patch veneers to specification, ensuring thickness consistency.
• Cross-train across multiple roles on the production floor.

Skills

Physical ability

Basic tech literacy

Strong work ethic

Adaptable

Safety awareness

Risk mitigation

Critical thinking

Job description

Job Title

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED – ON THE JOB TRAINING PROVIDED

Branch

Plant 4

Report To

Shift Supervisor

Schedule

24/7 operation must be available for all shifts

Status

Full-time

Wage Range

$21.54

JOB SUMMARY

You will start as a Utility Worker in our Plywood Production Facility, you will play a vital role in operating and supporting various machinery essential to the manufacturing process. This entry-level position requires adaptability and a proactive approach to learning different job functions across the production floor. You will be cross trained in multiple roles to build expertise and will be placed where production demands are the highest. Once you have developed the necessary skills, you will have the opportunity to bid for higher-level positions when they become available, which may come with increased pay. The work environment is fast-paced and production-focused, with assignments based on current needs. Employees should expect to work six day weeks in 8-hour shifts, contributing to a team-oriented and physically demanding setting that values reliability and flexibility.

Employees may be trained to work in one or all the following titles: Dryer Feeder, Dryer Grader, or LUL Patcher. Utility P3 is an entry level position and on-the-job training is provided.

Essential Functions

Dryer Feeder: keeping dryers full of veneer at maximum capacity, positioning veneer into the feeding station using automatic and manual transfers, removing objects from veneer prior to feeding, preventing and removing plug-ups.

Dryer Grader: grading and pulling veneer from drying table, stacking veneer in carts in an even manner concentrating on the quality of the stack. Stacks must be tight, neat and against the backboard to facilitate transport and later use on the plywood layup line.

LUL Patcher: patching holes within specifications of the product being made, removing overlapped veneer, assuring the patches are the same thickness as the core, marking defects that cannot be fixed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Ability to stand for extended periods and perform physical tasks, including pushing, pulling, twisting, bending, stooping, and lifting materials weighing up to 40 pounds regularly.

Comfort with repetitive tasks while maintaining focus and efficiency throughout the shift.

Working shift work and weekends, working six days per week.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Physical ability to stand push, pull twist, bend, stoop, and lift materials weighing up to 40 pounds regularly.
• Competence in basic technology to operate machinery and tools.
• Strong work ethics demonstrating reliability, punctuality, and dedication to high-quality results.
• Adaptable to changing tasks and work environments.
• Comfort with repetitive tasks while maintaining a safe work environment. Awareness of potential hazards and proactive in risk mitigation.
• Commitment to following safety protocols and maintaining a safe work environment. Awareness of potential hazards and proactive in risk mitigation
• Critical thinking skills for problem-solving and decision-making in fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Prior experience in lumber mills.
• Knowledge of the lumber industry.
• Basic understanding or experience of production processes.

Benefits

• Health
• Dental
• Life
• Short-term Disability
• Selection 125
• Discretionary Quarterly Profit Sharing
• 401 (K)
• Paid time off
• Holiday Pay
• Employee Discounts

OUR COMPANY

Freres Engineered Wood, formerly Freres Lumber Co., Inc. was established in 1922 in Lyons, Oregon as a family-owned and operated wood products manufacturing business. Three generations of family management have led the Company’s veneer and plywood manufacturing facilities to sustain in the Santiam Canyon and we are committed to operating for another 100+ years.

We operate six processing plants, including a small log veneer plant, large log veneer plant, veneer drying facility, plywood plant and cogeneration facility. We are dedicated to reinvesting in our modern manufacturing facilities, providing high-quality wood products, and providing family wage jobs within our communities. We specialize in creating the highest quality wood products, from raw log to finished products, including: hog fuel, bark fines, chips, shavings, specialty veneer, grade lumber, high-quality sheathing grade plywood and even electricity.

Our passion for continuous improvement aligned with our innovative approach to manufacturing, has led us to become the sole producer and developer of a unique, patented wood product, the Mass Ply Panel. If you have a growth mindset and thrive under pressure, you’re probably a great fit for our team!