Operations Technician I

Operations Technician IEstablished in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet. Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world. Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live. A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.Job Number #176542 - Hodges, South Carolina, United StatesColgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name! Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.Are you looking to make a direct impact on production excellence while working with advanced automation? As an Operations Technician I, you will own the effective operation, autonomous & preventative maintenance, sanitation, and changeover of production equipment to ensure we deliver high-quality products safely and efficiently. You will drive continuous improvement by collaborating with cross-functional teams. This role offers you the unique opportunity to be a technical leader on the floor, fostering a team environment where your ideas and problem-solving truly matter.Principal Duties and Responsibilities Include:Understands and is accountable for full compliance with safety and other Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) requirementsUnderstands and is accountable for following: all Quality, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and cleaning standards and guidelinesOperates, monitors, and performs changeovers of automated equipment through computer terminals, control panels and/or by manual means in the manufacturing of Colgate-Palmolive productsTroubleshoots, performs minor maintenance and repairs on production equipment, supported by maintenance personnel as neededMust be familiar with procedures for all equipment within their work area including, but not limited to, normal operations, quality inspections, safety procedures and safeguards, and lock out tag out (LOTO)Utilizes SAP and other processes to confirm in-house availability of raw and packing materials for current and next runsKnow and understand the planned schedule to coordinate the upstream and downstream processes by working with others in planning, warehouse, receiving and vendor representatives to ensure availability of materialsPerforms quality inspections and sampling for statistical process control activities throughout the manufacturing processUtilizes computer systems (SAP, Wonderware, OPERA, InBatch, etc.) and documentation to properly record production and quality related informationUndertakes daily reporting and updates of information systems (SAP, Cycle Counts, OPERA, etc.) and updates the shop floor communication boards upon requestPerforms raw materials receiving operations including SAP transactions, sampling and quality tests as per procedures in placeTransfers raw materials and work-in-progress materials from the staging areas to the respective point of use according to the daily production scheduleExecutes quality tests on work-in-process materials and compares the result to the Key Release Specifications in order to define usage decisionPerforms raw materials pre-weigh activities during the work-in-process production cyclePerforms cleaning activities of change parts, portable totes, pucks, etc. to ensure quality and operational requirements are metPerforms materials cycle counts to verify process accuracy and yieldPerforms housekeeping activities as per established protocol and conducts/participates in area housekeeping assessments per requirementResponsible for house-keeping of teamwork area and common areaAccurately and fully completes all regulatory and compliance related documentation and procedures; highlights variancesStays abreast of team's production performance via visual, written and verbal communicationsParticipates in regular review of team production performance and Kaizen events and uses information to drive continuous improvementSeek and apply Continuous Improvement tools and techniques to achieve team goalsShares knowledge and develops skills of others in the work team. Actively participate in continuous learning opportunitiesEvery team member has responsibility to fully utilize our resources to optimize our productivity to contribute and meet the needs of our customers, businesses and each otherAdditional duties as assignedRequired Qualification:High school diploma or GEDMinimum of 1 year of experience in a manufacturing environmentMust be able to work any shift, weekends and mandatory overtime as neededProficient with computers, software, and data processingDemonstrated competency in attention to detail, work standards, initiative and managing workAbility to lift 50 poundsAbility to climb stairs and ladders, bend to 90 degrees repeatedlyPreferred:Technical college/vocational school certificate or Associates degree in related fieldGMP and/or consumer goods manufacturing experience a plus1 or more years previous manufacturing experience preferredDemonstrated competency in problem solving/decision making, effective communication, results oriented, and job fitCompensation and BenefitsSalary Range $24.61 - $25.61 USD Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles. Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.Our Commitment to InclusionOur journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business. Equal Opportunity Employer Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.