Packaging Area Expert

Winland Foods•Medina, NY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Packaging Area Expert works in production packaging at Winland Foods, helping ensure products are packaged safely, efficiently, and to quality standards. The role operates, monitors, troubleshoots, and maintains packaging equipment; oversees assigned production lines; and supports product quality, inventory management, sanitation, and food-safety compliance. It also includes leading team activities, coordinating changeovers, training team members, maintaining accurate production records, and contributing to continuous improvement. The schedule is third shift, 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, with overtime as needed. The work location is 4001 Salt Works Rd, Medina, NY 14103. Pay is $25.00 per hour based on experience and other qualifications, plus a $1.00 shift differential.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 1 year of work experience; manufacturing or food-production experience is preferred.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Ability to operate, troubleshoot, and perform minor repairs on production-line equipment, including cartoners, baggers, case packers, sealers, depalletizers, and palletizers.
Mechanical aptitude and ability to identify and resolve equipment irregularities.
Proficiency in SAP, hand scanners, and basic math; computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Knowledge of GMPs, SQF, HACCP, FSMA, and other food-safety regulations, and commitment to following company safety policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate with coworkers, supervisors, and others in English regarding work matters, including understanding oral and written communications and communicating in writing as needed.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment and provide training, guidance, and feedback to team members.
Dependable, self-motivated, positive attitude, attention to detail, problem-solving ability, multitasking, adaptability, and accountability for work quality, attendance, and continuous improvement.
Willingness to work overtime or weekends as needed.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently, push heavy loads, stand and walk for up to 90% of the shift, and climb as needed.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and perform tasks involving climbing, pulling, pushing, carrying, grasping, reaching, twisting, turning, and stooping.
Good hand-eye coordination and motor skills; 20/20 corrected vision, normal hearing and vision with correction if needed, and ability to distinguish colors used for color-coded containers.
Ability to wear required PPE and adhere to safety procedures, including lockout/tagout and safe-lifting techniques.
Ability to work in conditions that may involve wetness, humidity, moving mechanical parts, heights, fumes, airborne particles, extreme temperatures, electrical risks, and vibrations, depending on the assigned area.

Nice To Haves

Forklift certification is preferred; willingness to obtain certification if not already held.
For higher levels, expert troubleshooting of high-speed packaging equipment and a strong understanding of theory of operation.
For advanced levels, proficiency in MII and WE systems and ability to interpret line-huddle measures to resolve issues.
For advanced levels, ability to lead projects, identify skill gaps, and support multiple initiatives with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

Operate basic packaging machinery, including depalletizers, palletizers, conveyors, and forklifts.
Perform equipment changeovers, operational checks, daily inspections, preventive maintenance, pre-inspection checks, and minor repairs; address operational issues and perform advanced troubleshooting as appropriate.
Use SAP, IQS, MII, and Weaver systems to support packaging operations, record inventory transactions and shipments, and maintain production information.
Monitor and optimize line performance; oversee assigned lines to ensure equipment is correctly set up, staffing is adequate, and materials are organized.
Collaborate with Maintenance to ensure equipment functionality.
Inspect products for correct labeling, alignment, and packaging; conduct quality checks and verify weight control, material accuracy, and product quality at multiple checkpoints.
Perform manual packing and palletizing, follow FIFO inventory methods, and manage materials.
Lead Centerlining and monitor line performance to spot issues early, minimize downtime and defects, and make real-time adjustments to prevent defects.
Enforce quality checks on line outputs and maintain compliance with GMP, HACCP, and food-safety standards and accurate documentation.
Follow GMP, HACCP, SQF, FSMA, and company food-safety policies; maintain cleanliness and sanitation and complete sanitation steps during changeovers.
Lead FSQ compliance in the assigned area, mentor the team on food safety, and uphold sanitation accountability and facility standards.
Assist team members, adapt to operational changes, provide backup coverage, share knowledge, and support training.
Coordinate team activities, assign tasks, lead shift meetings, direct changeovers, identify skill gaps, provide feedback, and support training programs in assigned areas.
Complete production paperwork, report issues to supervisors, record quality results, and assist with reviewing production paperwork.
Participate in 5S efforts and act as the 5S champion for the area.
Work with supervisors and the team to develop solutions; lead improvement projects, perform operator-based maintenance, analyze downtime causes, monitor performance metrics, and help implement effective processes.
Maintain a clean and safe work environment and promptly report food-safety or quality issues.