Join Our Team Today! 

We are Located at 6501 Fitzner Road Greenville, MI 48838

YOUR FUTURE IS AT FOREMOST!

At Foremost Farms, our farmer-members bring their milk to our Greenville, MI dairy campus every day so we can produce tailored, innovative solutions for customers around the world. Right now, we have an opening for a Intake Operator, a key player in our product development process.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. The essential functions of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Communicating in an appropriate manner with the operator that is being relieved to gain knowledge, such as present state of equipment, tankers and production run, to efficiently perform duties. 
• Adhering to all GMPs, quality and safety standards while performing duties.
• Communicating with appropriate process operators to efficiently manage silo space and production schedules, reporting any issues to supervisor as needed.
• Monitoring receiving intake bay and silo areas for leaking gaskets, airlines, pump seals, and the like, reporting any deficiencies to maintenance personnel.
• Maintaining proper recordkeeping and data entry for all liquid products received, loaded out and transferred as appropriate.
• Maintaining appropriate CIP records, quality records and other related regulatory records as needed.
• Prepare CIP tanks for the day.
• CIP milk silos when they are emptied in accordance with the SSOP. Put in water saver door and clean media tank according to the SSOP. Check all chemical concentration per the SSOP and record. Inspect tank and swab tank when done to verify cleanliness.
• Receive fluid milk from haulers. Verifying wash tag, manifest and seals, testing milk for acidity, odor and antibiotics. Loads may require agitation per the SOP.
• Monitor the filling of the silos.
• Organize trucks as they arrive, directing them to the appropriate bays and order.
• Organize and prepare trucks outgoing loads.
• Generate appropriate wash and sanitized tags for the bulk trucks and trailers.
• Stage the outgoing trucks to assure the customer delivery schedule is met.
• Refill sampler dipper solutions and ensure the intake has the appropriate supplies.
• Change appropriate Silo and CIP charts.
• CIP milk trucks and trailers in accordance to FFUSA policies. Check all chemical concentration per the SSOP.
• Check the central sanitizer level and concentration.
• Change chemical barrels and/or fill as needed.
• Maintain gaskets and valves in good working order. Change when worn or at appropriate time length.
• Inspect the temperature of the COP Tank refill if temperature it too low. Also, inspect the water/solution. If dirty drain and refill.
• CIP all required lines, silos and other vessels as needed in accordance to FFUSA policies. Check chemical concentrations per the SSOP and record.
• Clean Drains (as defined by drain cleaning program).
• Scrub the entire Intake Floor once a week or per the MSS.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• No prior experience needed; on-the-job training is provided
• Must be aged 18 years or older
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds with reasonable accommodations
• Able to stand for the duration of shift
• Willing to use a forklift (training is provided)
• Must be able to read and understand standard operating procedures and labels written in English
• Basic math skills (addition and subtraction) required
• Must be able to tell time on an analog or digital clock
• Participation in a team environment
• Must be detail orientated
• Ability to perform in a fact-paced work environment 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Any manufacturing experience you have will help you learn on the job
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP's, OSHA and loss control programs is a plus, not required

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

The following are required competencies of the position that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job: 

• Computer Skills:  Ability to operate all information technology related business systems, programs and applications in a manner that achieves efficiency, accuracy, and relevancy of information processing and reporting as it applies to this position.
• Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as memoranda, invoices, company policies and various documentation. Ability to process routine reports and instructions. Ability to communicate effectively with employees of the organization and truckers. Ability to effectively present information to other employees of the organization and related truckers and vendors.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to correctly add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to correctly compute rate, ratio, and percent.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Other Skills & Abilities: Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines, such as a computer and keyboard, calculator, photocopier, telephone, etc. The ability to drive a motor vehicle and maintain a valid driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Physical Demands – 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, crawl, climb or balance. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear, use hands to finger, handle or feel, or use foot/feet to operate machinery. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and crouch; stoop; or kneel.
  • The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 75 lb. to their waist height and occasionally lift and/or move 50 lb. to shoulder height. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work Environment – Employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne participles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Protective Equipment – Employee is required to wear personal protective equipment that is appropriate for the job being performed, including safety shoes/rubber boots, bump cap and other related personal garb related to food safety, including hair net/guard and rubber gloves.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

This position requires a high school diploma/GED, knowledge of basic work procedures related to the job and one year of job-related experience. An Associate Degree in related field, or some college coursework and three to five years of job-related experience is preferred.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITIY QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires the operator to become proficient in the operation of all manufacturing processes and systems, including intake operations and machine processing.

BENEFITS:

Foremost Farms offers some of the best benefits in the area, because you and your family matter. Our comprehensive medical plan includes health, vision, dental, and prescription insurance. Employees pay less than $150/month for single coverage and less than $270/month for family coverage, with low annual deductibles ($250/$500) to ensure financial security. Other benefits include:

• Sign-on Bonus paid training
• Paid vacation and holidays; premium pay for holiday work
• 401(k) with a generous company contribution
• Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Referral program
• Advancement opportunities!