TOWER OPERATOR/640 PACKAGING I

Supervisor’s Title:             Cheese Production Shift Manager

Reports to:                           Cheese Production Shift Manager

Department:                       Cheese

Exempt Status:                   Non-Exempt - Hourly

Work Schedule:                  Shift Work

The primary responsibilities of the Tower Technician are to run and maintain cheese towers and related equipment. The technician is expected to promote safety, maintain a sanitary food environment, and strive to improve product quality. This position has moderate oversight from supervisors. 

• Under limited supervision, operate tower equipment to produce the specified product.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate and complete paperwork, logs, and computer systems for inventory accuracy.
• Assist all cheese employees as needed.
• Responsible for maintaining equipment and the cleanliness of the work environment.
• Responsible for proper product handling to ensure minimum product loss. 
• Clean up after daily production and prepare supplies for the next shift.
• Notifies supervisors of problems or potential problems that disrupt production. 
• Attend required training and take the required quizzes to be proficient in the room.
• Responsible for completing all safety activities, plant meetings, and near misses.
• Complete all job activities following the set safety and operational SOP’s.
• Keeps records in accordance with good manufacturing processes and local and state laws.
• Each employee shall comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act which apply to his/her own actions and conduct.
• Complies with all applicable food safety regulations and mandates (Safe Quality Foods, Food and Drug Admin, Pasteurized Milk Ordinance).
• Complies with all company food safety policies and procedures (including Good Manufacturing Practices).
• Responsible for providing food safety and quality feedback to the appropriate manager.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Minimum maintenance knowledge preferred.
• Quickly respond to issues. 
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Possess a strong work ethic.
• Participate in proactive team efforts to achieve departmental and company goals.
• Ability to read and understand the daily production run schedule and execute the plan.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a team environment with a positive attitude.
• Punctual and regular attendance is required.
• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write, and speak.
• Comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to the supervisor and/or Human Resources.
   

Physical Requirements:  

• Physical effort is regularly required. 
• May be trained and required to operate a forklift. 
• Ascending or descending ramps, stairs, ladders, and/or scaffolding. 
• Frequently involves crouching, stooping, kneeling, and/or climbing or balancing. 
• Frequently involves lifting more than 50 lbs.

Typical Environmental Conditions: 

• Works in a food processing manufacturing facility with moderate noise. 
• May be exposed to moderate to high noise levels (i.e., production equipment, forklifts, heavy traffic). 
• May be exposed to humidity, intense heat and cold, outdoor weather conditions, and fumes and toxic chemicals. 
• May work in areas with mechanical moving parts, above ground with risk of fall, or areas with risk of electrical shock. 
• May be exposed to ingredients that may cause allergic reactions and may be exposed to various allergen ingredients.