Pilot Plant Worker

Job Description

The Pilot Plant Worker supports manufacturing operations in a clean‑room pilot plant that produces dog and cat food and treats. This role focuses on sanitation, material handling, basic machine support, and simple lab sampling activities to ensure safe, efficient, and high‑quality production.

• Support daily pilot plant manufacturing operations for pet food and treat production.
• Perform extensive cleaning and sanitizing of floors, machines, walls, components, and equipment to maintain a clean‑room environment.
• Assist advanced compo under operators with the setup, operation, and changeover of production equipment.
• Mix cleaning solutions according to established procedures and use them to sanitize machines between production runs.
• Handle and stage raw materials and ingredients such as whey, protein, corn, flour, liver, chicken, and beef scrap.
• Weigh materials accurately and record sample data in accordance with production and quality requirements.
• Receive dry ingredient materials in the designated area and enter receiving information into the computer system.
• Assist with basic machine operation and monitoring to support production and blending activities.
• Help operate mixers and blenders for production runs under the direction of experienced operators.
• Perform sanitation tasks on production and packaging equipment to support food safety and quality standards.
• Assist with warehouse activities, including moving, organizing, and storing incoming materials.
• Transport product and ingredient samples between the pilot plant and the analytical lab area as needed.
• Follow all safety, quality, and sanitation procedures and report any issues or irregularities promptly.
• Participate in on‑the‑job training, including forklift training, to move incoming pallets and materials safely.

• Previous experience in manufacturing and/or sanitation.
• Ability to perform repetitive cleaning and sanitizing tasks in a production environment.
• Basic understanding of production, manufacturing, and warehouse operations.
• Capability to handle raw animal products such as livers, chicken, and beef scrap.
• Comfort working around strong food‑related odors during production runs.
• Basic computer skills to record receiving information and sample data.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and standard operating procedures.
• Attention to detail when weighing materials and recording data.
• Willingness to work in cold environments such as freezers on occasion.

• Experience with mixing and blending operations in a production or food environment.
• Background as a mixer operator, blending operator, or machine operator.
• Familiarity with dry ingredient handling and weighing materials.
• Experience in warehouse receiving and material handling.
• Prior sanitation experience in a food, beverage, or clean‑room facility.
• Interest in obtaining forklift training to move incoming pallets and materials.
• Strong focus on quality and adherence to sanitation standards.

The role takes place in a clean pilot plant manufacturing facility that produces dog and cat food and treats. The environment combines clean‑room conditions with typical manufacturing activities, requiring frequent cleaning and sanitizing of floors, equipment, walls, and other surfaces. During production runs there is a strong pet food smell throughout the area.

The position involves handling raw animal products, including livers, chicken, and beef scrap, and occasionally working in a freezer environment. Warm jackets and gear are provided when working in cold areas. The facility uses production mixers, blenders, and other processing equipment, as well as computers for recording data and receiving materials. Forklifts may be used to move incoming pallets once training is completed.

The work is hands‑on and physically active, with a strong emphasis on cleanliness, safety, and food quality.

Contract position based out of Thompson’s Station, TN.

The pay range for this position is $18.00 - $18.00/hr.

Benefits include:
Medical, dental & vision;
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital; 401(k)…