Grind Operator
About The Position
The Grind Operator ensures food quality and personal safety while grinding meat products. The operator inspects incoming raw materials and processed grind, watches for product defects, and verifies that grind plates match product specifications. The role requires maintaining knowledge of grinder operation, performing routine maintenance, cleaning and repairs, and using problem-solving skills to limit downtime from machinery malfunctions. The operator supports food safety, quality assurance, and product standards. The position follows lockout/tagout procedures and other equipment-specific hazardous energy controls. It monitors and adjusts machinery, maintains production and food-safety records, conducts scheduled grinder checks, and helps ensure the work area meets company cleanliness and safety standards. The operator also coordinates with coworkers, quality assurance, maintenance, and management to support safe, efficient production and the success of the grind department.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- Two years of manufacturing equipment experience in commercial food operations, preferably in a protein-related industry, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Ability to read and interpret English-language documents, including letters, memoranda, invoices, and policies.
- Ability to follow detailed but uncomplicated written or oral instructions and address problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
- Sufficient math skills to perform operations with whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals, and to calculate rates, ratios, and percentages.
- Ability to lead problem-solving and troubleshooting efforts for operational-level process issues.
- Ability to stand for at least eight hours.
- Ability to continuously lift, push, or pull up to 50 pounds and to help lift up to 80 pounds with assistance.
Responsibilities
- Follow lockout/tagout procedures as an Authorized Employee when cleaning, repairing, servicing, setting up, adjusting, or unjamming equipment; understand equipment hazards and applicable hazardous energy control procedures.
- Inspect machinery and grind plates for compliance with specifications; stop equipment when problems are found, make necessary adjustments, perform basic maintenance, and schedule repairs to minimize downtime.
- Identify meat and grind product specifications and ensure required company and customer specifications and production volumes are met.
- Minimize waste by following production sheets, monitoring codes and dates, and applying FIFO raw-material rotation.
- Inspect raw materials for quality and freshness, monitor needed inventory, and coordinate with appropriate management staff.
- Maintain safety, sanitation, and productivity standards; perform scheduled grinder checks to meet operational and HACCP guidelines.
- Complete food safety, quality, and production paperwork accurately.
- Keep the work area clean and compliant with company standards.
- Move or lift heavy objects and load, unload, or stack products or materials; maintain a clean and safe work area.
- Assist with the success of the grind department and communicate with coworkers, quality assurance, maintenance, and management.
- Comply with food-safety policies and procedures, including SQF and BRC compliance, HACCP, CCP tasks, sanitation, and support-program implementation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
