Packaging Operator (12 Hour Days - Rotating Weekends)

The construction of fairlife's manufacturing facility in Webster, NY is underway. This state-of-the-art, 750k sq ft, greenfield plant is expected to be operational in late 2025 and will lay the foundation for fairlife's next phase of growth as the leading dairy nutrition provider. While coupling the industry's latest technologies and fairlife's operational excellence to build this world-class facility, fairlife plans to hire 250 new employees and bring in approximately 5 million lbs. of milk a day, with room to grow over the coming years.

shift schedule:

12 Hour Days: This is a day shift position, with hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The role follows a rotating 2-2-3 schedule: two days on, two days off, three days on, followed by two days off, two days on, and three days off. Team members will work every other weekend, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

job purpose:

The Packaging Operator operates, sets up, changes over, troubleshoots, and cleans either sleeving, case packing, or palletizing equipment. This position ensures the manufactured products meet specifications, makes minor adjustments as necessary, clears any jams that may occur, and prepares the equipment for cleaning. They continuously feed various materials into the machines such as sleeves, corrugate, shrink film, glue, pallets, and stretch wrap. They adhere to food processing requirements verified by routine quality checks and maintain food safe practices for the entire duration of operation.

responsibilities:

• Follow all safety, working, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) rules.
• Report to and follow the directions of the Production Supervisors.
• Demonstrate the ability to safely operate moving equipment and make the appropriate adjustments within process limits in order to package accurate and defect-free cases with sleeved bottles.
• Observe machine operations to ensure quality conformity to specifications and standard operating procedures for all packaged products.
• Inspect packaged product throughout the process including filled bottles, sleeved bottles, formed cases, shrink wrapped cases, and full pallets to verify all meet finished specifications then adjust the process as needed while escalating issues to a supervisor.
• Supply packaging equipment with materials such as sleeves, corrugate, shrink film, glue, pallets, and stretch wrap.
• Periodically count and record all finished or rejected materials.
• Clean the packaging equipment, ancillary tools, conveyors, and surrounding areas. Maintain the entire packaging line in audit ready condition both during and after production.
• Proactively monitor the production line, packaging equipment, and surrounding conveyors to watch for any problems including backups, jams, or rejects. Efficiently resolve stoppages and continue production in a timely manner while recording all downtime reasons.
• Stop and address machines when faults occur, clear machine jams, then report malfunctions to the appropriate supervisor and/or technician.
• Troubleshoot problems, perform minor repairs using the correct tools, and participate in Preventive Maintenance on the packaging equipment.
• Demonstrate proactive monitoring skills, using visual observation of gauges and listening to mechanical sounds to ensure equipment is functioning properly. Inform maintenance of suspected issues if unable to correct.
• Aid in the training of new personnel or upskilling of team members.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

skills/qualifications required:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

• A High School diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computational skills including simple math and reasoning required.
• Must be able to operate the equipment effectively after the appropriate training period.
• Must have the ability to troubleshoot small problems and escalate accordingly for those requiring additional expertise.
• Must work in a safe, efficient manner while adhering to all safety procedures.
• Must possess or be able to obtain an Industrial Truck Operator License.

working conditions and physical requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting/Standing/Walking/Lifting/Carrying - The Packaging Operator stands throughout their shift and walks on uneven concrete or tile surfaces. They lift full packaged cases to conduct routine checks and load material onto the equipment infeed areas.
• Pushing/Pulling/Bending/Stooping - The Packaging Operator pushes/pulls rolls of labels onto sleever and stacks collapsed boxes on a pallet or places into a recycling container. The Packaging Operator pushes/pulls while using brooms, dust mops, and brushes during cleanup duties. The Packaging Operator bends/stoops occasionally throughout the workday for varying lengths of time, especially to maintain the corrugate material feed level for the packer.
• Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling/Twisting/Turning - The Packaging Operator may squat to pick up product from the floor, or during various cleanup duties. There will be occasional twisting and turning at the waist is used when loading material, or when performing routine responsibilities.
• Climbing/Balancing/Reaching - The Packaging Operator steps on and off the platforms and climbs stairs to access equipment. The Packaging Operator reaches below and/or above shoulder level when removing or adding boxes to a pallet, loading materials, and dumping unfinished product components.
• Grasping/Manipulation - The Packaging Operator will engage in frequent use of hands and fingers for pressing buttons, opening equipment doors, typing on a keyboard, clearing jams, executing changeovers, and performing quality checks.

food safety requirements:

• Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.
• Understand, observe, and comply with the handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.
• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer, and/or Government requirements and standards as prioritized by the Company.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to food safety and the quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Identify and record any problems relating to food safety and the quality of ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming products in terms of food safety and quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
• In the event of an absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

position location:Webster, NY

reports to: Packaging Supervisor

travel requirements: little to none

exempt/nonexempt: nonexempt