Production Operator

Business Unit Overview

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company's portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats™, PEBBLES™, Grape-Nuts™ and Malt-O-Meal™ cereal and Peter Pan™ peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish™, Kibbles 'n Bits™ and 9Lives™ dog and cat food. Post also provides private label solutions to customers in pet food, cereal, nut butters and granola. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit and follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook for the latest news.


Location Description

The Meadville, Pennsylvania facility is 135,000 square feet and home to about 290 hard working team members who are proud to produce iconic pet food brands like Rachael Ray® Nutrish®. Located along the banks of French Creek in Northwestern Pennsylvania and 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, Meadville is home to more than 13,000 full time residents and 2,000 Allegheny College students. Meadville is an active center for business, industry, education, the arts, recreation, service and tourism. Conneaut Lake, Pymatuning State Park and the Erie National Wildlife Refuge are wonderful places to appreciate the area's natural beauty.


Responsibilities

Purpose:


Operates and monitors production equipment, shipping, receiving, finished product storage or staging materials and supply replenishment. Identifying and correcting routine and repetitive upset conditions. Requires good decision making skills while performing daily tasks and working safely around and/or operating moving equipment. May be a temporary or FT position. FT employees are required to be proficient in supporting the entire line/all equipment. Support, implement, and maintain food safety, food safety culture, and quality practices as required through SQF.


Primary Responsibilities:

• Operates and monitors production and distribution equipment and process.

• Ensures all required materials/ingredients are staged and available appropriately.

• Supports timely and efficient change overs on equipment.

• Responds safely to upset conditions, diverts product, clears jams, starts and stops, and recognizes failure patterns and adjusts or requests resources, and communicates appropriately.

• Supports root cause analysis process and implementation of corrective actions following upset conditions.

• Maintains basic knowledge and understanding of SQF requirements.

• Learns, supports and performs Basic Equipment Care (BEC) tasks accurately and on time.

• Loads/changes packaging materials into required equipment, and starts and stops basic system operation.

• Follows established SOP's and Food Safety requirements.

• Operates Material Handling/inventory management equipment, such as scan guns, forklifts, pallet jacks, scissor lifts, etc. in a safe manner.

• Supports cleaning of production equipment, following GMP and food safety requirements.

• Records production data required for measuring waste, downtime or production efficiency, or other pertinent data as required.

• Trains and coaches other employees learning new equipment, processes and/or procedures.

• Completes job duties in an efficient manner that supports all plant safety, food safety, quality and environmental practices.

• Maintains clean work areas and performs sanitation tasks.

• May participate in special projects, assignments, and trainings.

• Assists in other areas across the platform upon request.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Competencies:

• High School Diploma or GED.

• 6 months to 1 year of manufacturing or related experience is a plus.

• Mechanically inclined with the ability to learn and operate all related production equipment.

• Ability to follow detailed work instructions or work directions.

• Basic math and computer skills.

• Ability to use basic hand and power tools.

• Ability to work within a team environment and build positive professional relationships.

• Ability to effectively communicate in both written and verbal form in English.

• Ability to problem solve entry-level problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where standardizations/alternatives exist.

• Ability to work scheduled shifts, standing, kneeling, climbing and walking for extended periods of the day; capable of repetitive gripping, pinching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling with weight ranges up to 50 pounds; ability to perform repeated twisting, bending and reaching of upper and lower extremities; exposure to hot and/or humid environments, heights up to 30 ft., working on ladders, and confined spaces.

• Good work history and acceptable attendance.

Competencies:

• Communication Skills: Writing & Listening Skills , Training Skills

• Execution Skills: Results Oriented , Problem Solving

• People Skills: Team Building

• Personal Behaviors: Flexibility & Initiative