Production Associate

Production Associate

This direct hire role offers an opportunity to join a growing food manufacturing facility and support highly automated production lines that make protein bars. As a Production Associate, you will work in a startup-style environment, helping to launch and stabilize a brand-new plant with new equipment and evolving processes. You will support machine operators by handling raw materials, maintaining cleanliness, and assisting with packaging to ensure smooth, efficient production.

Responsibilities

• Load raw ingredients into mixing machines according to production requirements and safety guidelines.
• Load melt materials, such as chocolate, into melt machines to support continuous production flow.
• Wash and clean trays and other production accessories to maintain a hygienic food manufacturing environment.
• Load materials into wrapper machines to support automated packaging operations.
• Load sprinkles and other toppings or inclusions as specified by product recipes.
• Assist with packing finished products, including organizing, labeling, and preparing items for shipment or storage.
• Support machine operators by supplying ingredients, materials, and clean trays so they can keep equipment running efficiently.
• Work on both processing and packing sides of operations as needed to keep production moving.
• Perform general labor and general production tasks, including loading, cleaning, and basic line support.
• Follow food production and food processing procedures, including cleanliness and hygiene expectations.
• Adapt to new processes, procedures, and workflows as the plant ramps up and automation is refined.
• Remain on your feet throughout the shift and safely handle repetitive tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Participate in on-the-job training to learn equipment support, production flow, and plant-specific procedures.
• Collaborate with team members and communicate clearly to help keep production on schedule and address issues quickly.

Essential Skills

• Experience in food production, food processing, or other production environments is desired.
• Background in general labor, general production, or production line work.
• Ability to perform loading tasks, including loading raw ingredients, materials, and packaging supplies.
• Experience with packaging or working on a packaging line in a manufacturing setting.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, highly automated production environment.
• Strong communication skills to help get a new plant up and running and keep production flowing smoothly.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in a startup environment with evolving processes and shift changes.
• Ability to stand on your feet for the full shift and perform repetitive tasks safely.
• Willingness and ability to move to a second shift schedule when required.
• Commitment to cleanliness and following food safety and hygiene expectations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience in food manufacturing or other non-food production environments.
• Comfort working in a brand-new plant with new, highly automated equipment.
• Willingness to work on both processing and packing operations as needed.
• Openness to on-the-job training for new processes and equipment.
• Ability to work optional overtime on weekends when available.
• Readiness to follow current practices and transition to future Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards as they are implemented.

Why Work Here?

This opportunity offers a comprehensive benefits package and the chance to grow with a brand-new, highly automated facility. You receive a stipend toward steel toe or composite footwear, as well as medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options and no high-deductible medical plan. Benefits begin on the first of the month, and you accrue paid time off and sick days to support work-life balance. A 401(k) plan is available after 90 days with a 100% match up to 4%, helping you build long-term financial security. You will join a team-focused environment where your input and flexibility contribute directly to building and improving a new operation.

Work Environment

The role is based in a food manufacturing facility producing protein bars, working across both processing and packing operations. The plant is brand new, with new, highly automated equipment and evolving processes, so you will work in a modern, climate-controlled environment with both air conditioning and heat to protect food and ingredients. The facility is currently completing its permanent restroom and plumbing installations, with portable bathrooms in place outside the plant in the interim. You will work on your feet for the duration of your shift, supporting machines rather than operating them directly, and handling tasks such as loading dough, placing ingredients in mixers, and cleaning trays. The standard schedule currently runs Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch, and will transition to either 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A second shift is planned to open around JulyAugust, likely running from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and flexibility to move to this shift is required. Optional overtime may be available Friday through Sunday as production needs increase. The environment emphasizes adaptability, teamwork, and adherence to food production expectations, with future implementation of formal GMP practices as the plant continues to ramp up.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Nashville, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $43680.00 - $43680.00/yr.

DP Benes: - $75 Steel Toe/Composite Stipend - Medical, Dental, Vision 3 Medical plans no high deductible. Anthem BlueCross. - Benes start 1st of month. - 15 PTO days accrued. - 6 Sick days accrued. - 401K after 90 days. 100% match up to 4%.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Nashville, TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 2026.