Feed Mill Operations Specialist - Twin Falls, Idaho

Job Description

Job Description

VAN BEEK NUTRITION
Nutrition Technician / Feed Mill Operations Coordinator - Specialist

Position: Full-time
Reports to: Operations Manager
Schedule: Monday–Friday; occasional additional hours and travel as needed.

Position Summary

Van Beek Nutrition seeks a technically skilled, detail-oriented Nutrition Technician with at least two years of relevant experience to support animal nutrition, feed milling, production systems, inventory, quality, and compliance.

The successful candidate will understand feed mill operations, work confidently with WEM feed milling systems, Feed Mill Manager software, or comparable platforms, and coordinate accurate, efficient production. Food safety experience and related certifications are a plus.

Essential Responsibilities

Nutrition and Formula Support

• Enter and maintain approved formulas, ingredient specifications, product codes, mixing instructions, and labeling information.
• Verify ingredient quantities, inclusion rates, units of measure, batch sizes, and formula versions.
• Understand the functions of minerals, vitamins, additives, and other animal feed ingredients.
• Coordinate formula questions and ingredient substitutions with the nutritionist or authorized manager before making changes.
• Protect proprietary formulas, technical information, and customer records.

Feed Milling and Operations

• Coordinate production schedules, ingredient availability, and customer order priorities with management and mill personnel.
• Support receiving, weighing, batching, grinding, mixing, packaging, loading, and shipping, as applicable to the facility.
• Monitor batching accuracy, mixing procedures, production efficiency, and finished-product quality.
• Follow production sequencing, flushing, and cleanout procedures to control contamination and carryover.
• Reconcile ingredient usage, production quantities, inventory, waste, and adjustments.
• Identify equipment problems, communicate maintenance needs, and help resolve production interruptions.
• Support preventive maintenance, housekeeping, and safe equipment operation.
• Provide operational coverage, employee guidance, and task coordination as assigned.

WEM, Feed Mill Manager, and Technical Skills

• Operate WEM feed milling systems, Feed Mill Manager, or comparable production software within assigned responsibilities.
• Maintain accurate formulas, ingredient records, inventory transactions, and production data.
• Review batch reports, alarms, exceptions, and discrepancies; investigate and escalate unresolved issues.
• Understand the relationship between software instructions, scales, ingredient delivery, and milling equipment.
• Troubleshoot routine system and data problems and coordinate support with management, IT, or vendors.
• Use Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint for reporting, documentation, and communication.
• Help develop clear operating procedures and train employees on approved processes.

Quality, Food Safety, and Compliance

• Follow applicable animal feed requirements, current good manufacturing practices, company procedures, and the facility’s food safety plan.
• Support FDA, applicable state feed, workplace safety, and relevant certification requirements.
• Assist management and the company’s Preventive Controls Qualified Individual with food safety documentation, monitoring, corrective actions, and training.
• Collect ingredient and finished-product samples and maintain retained samples according to approved procedures.
• Review certificates of analysis and document required inspections and testing.
• Support aflatoxin and other mycotoxin controls and approved ingredient acceptance procedures.
• Identify and segregate suspect ingredients or products and follow hold-and-release procedures.
• Maintain lot traceability, receiving records, batch documentation, and labeling accuracy.
• Assist with audits, inspections, sanitation, pest control records, and corrective-action follow-up.
• Support OMRI and other applicable customer or certification requirements.

Communication and Accountability

• Provide consistent updates on production, inventory, equipment concerns, and outstanding tasks.
• Communicate promptly when an issue could affect safety, quality, delivery, or cost.
• Organize priorities, maintain accurate records, and complete assignments with limited supervision.
• Work professionally with customers, suppliers, coworkers, and technical service providers.
• Recommend improvements that reduce waste, errors, and downtime.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of experience in feed milling, feed manufacturing, animal nutrition support, or closely related operations.
• Practical knowledge of feed mill equipment, ingredient handling, batching, mixing, inventory, and production records.
• Experience with WEM, Feed Mill Manager, or comparable feed manufacturing software.
• Strong technical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot routine equipment, software, and process issues.
• Ability to calculate weights, percentages, inclusion rates, and unit conversions accurately.
• Ability to interpret formulas, specifications, operating instructions, and technical documents.
• Strong computer skills, attention to detail, communication, and follow-through.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Food safety or quality assurance experience.
• Relevant food safety training or certification, such as HACCP or animal food preventive controls training.
• Previous lead operator, assistant feed mill manager, or feed mill management experience.
• Direct experience with WEM and Feed Mill Manager.
• Degree or technical education in animal nutrition, animal science, agriculture, feed science, or a related field.
• Experience with minerals, premixes, specialty feeds, or bulk ingredient handling.
• Familiarity with audits, regulatory inspections, sampling, and product traceability.

Work Environment

Work includes office and feed mill settings, with exposure to dust, noise, equipment, and seasonal temperatures. Duties may require standing, walking, using stairs, and accessing production and storage areas. Required protective equipment and safety procedures must be followed. Essential functions may be performed with reasonable accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Van Beek Nutrition provides equal employment opportunities and considers reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.

Related duties may be assigned as business needs change.

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