Lead Production Operator

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Mishawaka, IN, US

Job Title:Production Lead

Job Type: Full-time

Hours: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM or 6:00 PM – 6:00 AM (12-hour shifts) / Wednesday - 6-hour shift, hours depend on regular shift

About United Petfood:

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US.

Joining us, means joining an international, passionate and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there: we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a spot in which you can grow, bloom and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

This is a multi-faceted role in that it is responsible for correctly, safely and efficiently packaging production. Must be able to operate, troubleshoot packaging equipment according to scheduled production needs. Set-up, operate and disassemble, processing equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and GMPs. Operate processing equipment, grinding, batching, extrusion, drying, coating, fresh meat according to scheduled production needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Experienced in setting up and operation of packaging equipment and processing equipment
• Experienced with equipment and use of tools to do change over’s in Packaging and Processing
• Experience with Video Jet printers
• Experience in maintaining records and logs during packaging and Processing
• Experienced in processing and Packaging quality checks on Red Zone
• Must be trained in IFS, Wonderware, WMS, Red Zone.
• Observe and assure all Techs maintain safe, efficient machine operation on all production lines
• Must be able to operate and disassemble, processing and packaging equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and GMPs
• Experience with Outlook 365 so production updates and summaries are sent to the leadership team
• Follow and hold others accountable for following all company Good Manufacturing Practices.
• All other duties as assigned

Lead & Administrative Responsibilities:

• May require weekend coverage based on production needs.
• Review and manage employee timecards, including:
• Submitting time-off requests in the system in partnership with the Area Manager prior to approval.
• Ensuring required timekeeping documentation is accurately completed and submitted to HR.
• Reviewing and submitting temporary employee timecards
• Monitor and ensure compliance with scheduled break and lunch times.
• Responsible for distributing employee paychecks and required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Support attendance tracking by completing attendance-related documentation and write-ups and assisting with other corrective action documentation as directed by the Area Manager.
• Train and onboard new hires, including job-specific tasks, safety practices, and production expectations.
• Ensure assigned production line runs smoothly and efficiently during the shift.
• Lead and facilitate shift huddles to communicate production goals, safety topics, and key updates.

Workplace Safety:

• Completes safety system documentation and verifies compliance to program standards. Reports deviations to Supervisor.
• Participates in mandatory safety trainings and adheres to all safety policies
• Required to report all safety issues, near misses, and injuries

Quality & Food Safety:

• Complete quality and food safety system documentation and…