Maintenance Helper

Prairie Farms Dairy•Battle Creek, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Maintenance Helper supports the reliability, efficiency, and safety of plant operations in a dairy manufacturing environment. The position assists the Maintenance Department with preventative maintenance, equipment lubrication, facility housekeeping, and general upkeep of production and support areas. The role helps keep production equipment maintained, work areas clean and organized, and safety standards upheld, while providing an opportunity to develop mechanical aptitude and gain exposure to industrial maintenance operations. The position is hourly and non-union, based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and reports to Maintenance. The stated pay range is $21.50–$30.00 per hour. The shift is flexible depending on department needs and may involve overtime requirements. Work takes place in a dairy manufacturing facility and may include exposure to moving machinery, cleaning chemicals, temperature fluctuations, and production operations. Employees must follow applicable safety, quality, food safety, and sanitation standards. The role involves extended periods of standing and walking; frequent bending, squatting, kneeling, climbing, reaching, and twisting; and lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. The posting gives lifting requirements of up to 50 pounds and, elsewhere, up to 61 pounds. Employees may need to work in confined spaces and around operating machinery, and wear required PPE. Prairie Farms is a farmer-owned cooperative representing more than 800 farm families. The company says it has produced dairy products since 1938 and emphasizes product quality, professional integrity, customer and consumer service, community support, and service to its farm families.

Requirements

Ability to read, understand, and follow written and verbal instructions.
Ability to work safely in a manufacturing environment and follow company policies and procedures.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining a clean, organized, and safe workplace.
Dependable attendance and ability to report to work on time and prepared for assigned duties.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and effectively within a team.
Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, maintenance personnel, and production employees.
Ability to regularly stand and walk for extended periods during shifts.
Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and climb ladders, platforms, and stairs as required.
Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials; the posting lists limits of up to 50 pounds and up to 61 pounds.
Ability to work in confined spaces and around operating machinery when necessary.
Sufficient dexterity to safely operate maintenance tools and equipment.
Ability to work in wet, humid, cold, hot, and noisy environments and around sanitation chemicals and cleaning solutions while following safety requirements.
Ability to wear required PPE, including safety glasses, gloves, and hearing protection.
Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality; be coachable and willing to learn; quickly learn organizational systems; work without direct supervision; and perform detailed work.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Previous experience in manufacturing, industrial maintenance, janitorial services, construction, warehouse operations, or related environments.
Basic mechanical aptitude and familiarity with hand tools, lubrication equipment, and cleaning equipment.
Experience in a food manufacturing or industrial production environment.

Responsibilities

Perform routine lubrication, greasing, and servicing of production and facility equipment according to preventative maintenance schedules.
Assist maintenance personnel with basic maintenance activities, inspections, repairs, and equipment support as directed.
Maintain cleanliness and organization in production, maintenance, warehouse, and common work areas.
Remove debris, excess materials, grease accumulation, and other workplace hazards.
Monitor equipment during lubrication and cleaning, and promptly report unusual noise, vibration, leaks, wear, damage, or other abnormalities.
Follow safety policies, lockout/tagout procedures, food safety requirements, and PPE practices.
Maintain inventories of lubricants, cleaning supplies, and maintenance materials, and notify leadership when replenishment is needed.
Assist with facility upkeep projects, equipment cleaning, painting, and minor building maintenance tasks.
Respond to maintenance-related requests in a timely and professional manner to support production uptime.
Complete required maintenance logs, inspection records, and departmental documentation accurately.
Work collaboratively with maintenance, production, sanitation, and leadership teams.
Demonstrate a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to learn new skills and responsibilities.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.