Production Associate

Ornua Co-operative Limited • Byron, MN

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Associate supports Ornua’s manufacturing operations by preparing cheese and other ingredients for production, handling finished products, and cleaning and inspecting equipment and work areas. The role is based at a food manufacturing facility in Byron, Minnesota, and reports to the Production Supervisor. It is full-time, with a Monday–Thursday day-shift schedule consisting of 10-hour shifts and overtime as necessary. The hourly rate is $20.50, with an 8% quarterly bonus opportunity.

The work includes opening and preparing cheese and other ingredients, weighing ingredients according to batch sheets, cutting and trimming ingredients to specified weights, transferring them to pickup tables, loading cheese into grinders, and palletizing packaged product. The Production Associate also cleans assigned areas and equipment using cleaning solutions, hand tools, and pressurized sanitation equipment, and inspects sanitation work to ensure operating and sanitation standards are met before production begins.

The role requires extended periods of standing, repetitive use of the hands, and frequent lifting. The work takes place in a food manufacturing environment with temperature variation between cooler warehouse areas and warmer production zones, moving equipment, and moderate to loud noise. Required personal protective equipment includes safety shoes, hearing protection, gloves, and hairnets.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Solid work history.
• Ability to stand for long periods, including 10-hour workdays.
• Ability to work with hands and repetitively lift up to 50 pounds.
• Basic math skills.
• Ability to perform regular standing, walking, bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 60 pounds.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions and safely operate equipment while following safety and quality procedures.
• Ability to work in a food manufacturing environment with temperature variation, moving equipment, and moderate to loud noise, using required PPE.

Nice To Haves

• Prior food manufacturing experience.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.

Responsibilities

• Open barrels, blocks, or bags of cheese and other ingredients.
• Weigh ingredients to the specified amounts on individual batch sheets.
• Use knives and wires to cut and trim ingredients to the correct weights.
• Transfer ingredients from the scale to pickup tables.
• Load cheese into grinders; the role involves heavy lifting.
• Palletize finished product at the end of the packaging line.
• Clean equipment and assigned areas, including laboratory and production areas, using chemical cleaning solutions, hand tools, and pressurized sanitation equipment.
• Inspect sanitation work and follow up as appropriate to ensure operating and sanitation standards are met and production and processing equipment can start safely and on time.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Quarterly bonus scheme for production; the posting specifies an 8% quarterly bonus opportunity.
• Medical, vision, and dental benefits with low employee contributions.
• 401(k).
• Paid time off.
• Maternity leave (20 weeks).
• Parental leave.
• Reward and Recognition program.
• Volunteering opportunities.
• Long Service Awards.

What This Job Offers

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