Production - CIP Operator

Dairy Farmers of America • Billings, MT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Meadow Gold Dairy in Billings, Montana, is hiring an adaptable CIP Operator (Sanitation-Plant) to perform general duties, including cleaning and sanitation, to support product quality. The operator ensures products and processes are clean and sterile by following regulatory standards and company policies and procedures.

The position involves operating clean-in-place systems, cleaning and sanitizing equipment, tanks, and pipelines, maintaining product-contact surfaces, completing sanitation records, and performing plant housekeeping. The operator also performs pre-operational checks, collects samples for quality assurance testing, resolves basic to moderate operating difficulties, and reports food safety or quality issues to management. The role follows DFA good manufacturing practices and applicable food safety, quality, sanitation, health, and safety requirements.

The schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, with Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday off. Pay starts at $21.99 per hour and increases to $26.87 per hour after one year, per the collective bargaining agreement.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must pass pre-employment screenings, including drug, background, and criminal checks.
• Must be able to stand, walk, pull, push, reach, and bend for virtually the entire shift.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, assist others with lifting when necessary, and manually stack and move cases up to 6–8 cases high.
• Must be able to work in a wet environment and in temperatures maintained at 35–40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including overtime, weekends, and holidays.
• May occasionally be exposed to cleaning chemicals.

Responsibilities

• Assemble and disassemble equipment for proper cleaning and sanitizing according to manufacturer instructions.
• Operate the clean-in-place (CIP) system to clean and sanitize equipment, tanks, and pipelines.
• Perform basic preventive maintenance on gaskets, seals, O-rings, plates, and other product-contact surfaces as needed under the Master Sanitation Schedule.
• Complete sanitation records, including cleaning cycle times, cleaning concentrations, flow rates, heat-up temperatures, and chemical strengths.
• Clean plant floors, walls, ceilings, air vents, lights, equipment, and equipment exteriors.
• Complete pre-operational checks on product-contact surfaces, including pumps, valves, agitators, alcoves, and clamps, before startup.
• Troubleshoot and resolve basic to moderate operating difficulties.
• Collect samples required for quality assurance testing.
• Complete paperwork clearly, legibly, and accurately, and document required information in accordance with SOPs.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes using a continuous improvement mindset.
• Immediately report food safety and food quality issues to management.
• Maintain safe working conditions and comply with applicable state and federal health and safety regulations.
• Follow DFA good manufacturing practices and corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements.

Benefits

• Union pension plan
• Competitive pay
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career growth opportunities and promotion from within
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Employee referral program; availability varies by company and governing collective bargaining agreements

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED