1st Shift Food Cooler & Smoker Specialist

Job Details:

Job Location:

Montgomery City - Montgomery City, MO 63361, Position Type:
Full Time, Education Level: High School, Salary Range: $16.50 - $17.50 Hourly, Travel Percentage:
None, Job Shift: Day, Job Category:
Manufacturing, The Cooler & Smoker Associate is responsible for safely processing, cooling, smoking, handling, labeling, and staging food products according to production schedules and company standards. Working under the direction of the Cooler & Smoker Lead and Supervisor, this position supports product quality, accurate inventory, traceability, and timely movement of products between departments.

• Load and unload smokehouses according to production schedules and work instructions.
• Safely transfer products between Kitchen, Smoker, Cooler, Warehouse, and Repack departments.
• Monitor and record product temperatures during cooling and smoking; follow required processing and cooling procedures.
• Accurately label products, verify lot numbers and product identification, and maintain product traceability.
• Rotate inventory using First In, First Out (FIFO), assist with inventory counts, and maintain organized storage areas.
• Stage finished products for shipping or additional processing.
• Complete production paperwork, temperature logs, and other required records accurately and promptly.
• Perform product quality checks and immediately report damaged or nonconforming products and food safety concerns to the Lead or Supervisor.
• Perform pre-operational equipment inspections and safely operate approved equipment, including pallet jacks, product racks, carts, temperature probes, scanners, scales, and label printers. Forklift operation is limited to certified operators.
• Clean workstations throughout the shift, assist with sanitation during changeovers, and maintain department housekeeping.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) procedures, Safe Quality Food (SQF) requirements, applicable USDA requirements, and company food safety policies.
• Follow sanitation, allergen control, food defense, and food fraud prevention procedures to protect product integrity and prevent contamination.
• Wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), follow applicable Lockout/Tagout procedures, and immediately report injuries, unsafe conditions, and equipment concerns.
• Meet daily productivity and quality expectations while maintaining dependable attendance, punctuality, and respectful teamwork.
• Support continuous improvement, cross-train in other production departments, and assist with training new employees when requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

• Ability to read and understand production documents and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Basic math skills and the ability to accurately record temperatures, quantities, lot numbers, and production information.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and basic problem-solving ability.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to accept direction and work independently as assigned.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment while following safety, sanitation, and product quality requirements.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work overtime as business needs require.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• High school diploma or GED.
• Previous manufacturing or warehouse experience, particularly in food manufacturing.
• Experience working in…