Production Operator I - APC

Lauridsen Group • Sublette, KS

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Operator I promotes safety, maintains a sanitary food environment, and helps ensure that only high-quality products are made. The operator runs production and packaging equipment under the shift supervisor’s supervision, follows product-handling and production procedures, monitors product and equipment conditions, and completes required records and paperwork. The role also includes cleaning and maintaining production areas, handling and packaging finished product, moving pallets, and performing basic repairs as directed.

The position involves working day or night 12-hour shifts, including weekends and holidays, with overtime as needed. Work takes place primarily in plant and equipment or maintenance areas, with sustained physical effort and frequent operation around moving machinery. The operator must follow company food-safety, quality, sanitation, safety, and regulatory requirements, and cooperate with staff across departments.

High school diploma or GED is required. Previous work experience in agriculture, production, or manufacturing is preferred.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED certificate.
• Ability to prepare and operate packaging machinery.
• General knowledge of production or manufacturing methods.
• Ability to read gauges and legibly record data according to established procedures.
• Ability to learn to handle inedible protein materials according to established sanitary procedures and practices.
• Ability to understand and follow work procedures, including required sanitary and safety guidelines.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English to prepare and understand logs and schedules and communicate with fellow employees.
• Ability to operate a forklift and pallet jack.
• Ability to perform basic math.
• Ability to move throughout the plant and sustain the physical and mental effort needed to climb, sample, and clean equipment and work areas.
• Ability to troubleshoot malfunctions and notify appropriate staff about problems beyond the scope of normal duties.
• Ability to cooperate with staff, handle multiple tasks, assist in all work areas, and work independently when needed.
• Ability and willingness to adapt to changing assignments and perform tasks where assigned.
• Ability to maintain a positive, professional attitude and work ethic and adhere to APC values and ethics.
• Ability to work daily and overtime as necessary.
• Ability to lift and handle products and materials; the posting specifies lifting bags of up to 60 pounds and lists frequent lifting of weights up to 80 pounds at waist level, 60 pounds at floor level, and 50 pounds at shoulder level.
• Ability to meet the listed physical demands, including continuous standing and work in plant and equipment/maintenance areas; frequent walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, stooping, reaching above shoulder, climbing, lifting, pushing/pulling, and operating moving machinery.
• Previous work experience in agriculture, production, or manufacturing is preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Previous work experience in agriculture, production, or manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Operate production equipment under the shift supervisor’s supervision, including packaging machinery and associated equipment.
• Monitor product volume, temperatures, processing times, pressure readings, gauges, and machinery; record readings and notify the supervisor of out-of-specification conditions or problems beyond the role’s scope.
• Understand product types, sources, handling procedures, and product flow.
• Receive product and start, operate, shut down, and clean the dryer/evaporator and associated equipment.
• Collect hourly production readings, including color, moisture, and temperature; monitor the bag house and check air pressure.
• Complete charts, logs, and other paperwork accurately and in accordance with company and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain safe, clean, organized production areas and perform general housekeeping.
• Prepare bags using the established labeling and numbering system; print packaging labels using a computer.
• Fill, weigh, seal, and load bags onto pallets; bag and blend finished powder, weigh and sample product, palletize product, and move pallets.
• Operate forklifts and pallet jacks.
• Follow company food-safety and quality policies, SOPs, sanitary practices, GMPs, and applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform elementary mechanical and carpentry repairs throughout the plant as instructed by supervision.
• Contribute to continuous and process improvement, anticipate problems, and implement solutions.
• Safeguard customer, company, vendor, and employee information; support plant goals and objectives.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships and communicate with employees in other departments and with peers.
• Work in all assigned areas, take on additional tasks, and perform duties independently or collaboratively as needed.
• Remain calm and professional during peak periods and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Work daily and overtime as necessary, including weekends and holidays.

What This Job Offers

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