Demo

Cooker Operator

Darling Ingredients Inc.
Russellville, KY Full Time
POSTED ON 6/2/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/1/2026

Company Details

Darling Ingredients repurposes and recycles materials from the animal agriculture and food industries - transforming them into essential ingredients that do everything from feeding animals to fertilizing crops to fueling planes and nourishing people. We're the number one publicly traded company of our kind, operating a global family of brands and businesses that span more than 260 facilities in over 15 countries. Our unique scale allows us to make entire industries less wasteful and more sustainable, helping move the world toward a more circular economy.

Darling Ingredients offers full time employees a full suite of benefits including but not limited to the following: 401(k), Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, and Paid Time Off.

Job Summary

The Cooker Operator is responsible for the operation of PLC to control the machinery. They must monitor pumps and grinders to ensure quality assurance.

This is a 2nd shift position 3pm-1:30am M-F with rotating Saturdays

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

  • Always conduct yourself in a safe and controlled manner
  • Blow grease lines as required
  • Clean up to include but not limited to shoveling the floor, hosing floors and machinery down, using wheelbarrows and PIT's.
  • Operate the cooking process within selected parameters
  • Document plant operations per our GMP program
  • Notify shift manager of any issues or maintenance problems
  • Attendance at all safety meetings required
  • All other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Must be 18 years of age.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Manufacturing, industrial, or agricultural experience preferred.
  • Prior experience in a rendering facility or production environment preferred.
  • High School diploma or GED preferred
  • Works well with others in a team environment.
  • Dependable; reliable; ability to work nights and/or weekends as needed.

The information contained in this job description is intended to describe the essential job functions required of those assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the job. Please note that management retains the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to effective customer service delivery, integrity, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Darling Ingredients.


Darling Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military service, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state and local law. Know Your Rights: If you would like more information, please click on the link and paste into your browser: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster


Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment factors described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the main duties of this job.

Working Environment

None

Occasionally = up to 20%

Frequently = 21% to 50%

Constantly = at least 51%

Exposed to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environments such as high noise level, strong odors, and/or exposure to heat and cold

Exposed to bio hazardous conditions

Exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations

Exposed to Electrical hazards; risk of electrical shock

Handles or works with potentially dangerous equipment

Travels to offsite locations

Other (please describe):

Physical Demands

None

Occasionally = up to 20%

Frequently = 21% to 50%

Constantly = at least 51%

Sit: Must be able to remain in a stationary position.

Walk: Must be able to move about inside/outside office or work location.

Use hands to finger, handle or feel: Operates a computer and other office machinery.

Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl: Must be able to position one's self to maintain computers in the lab, including under desks and in the server closet.

Climb or balance: Must be able to ascend/descend on a ladder.

Talk, hear, taste, smell: Must be able to use senses to; effectively communicate with co-workers and clients and detect hazardous conditions.


Weight and Force Demands

None

Occasionally = up to 20%

Frequently = 21% to 50%

Constantly = at least 51%

Up to 10 pounds

Up to 25 pounds

Up to 50 pounds

Up to 100 pounds

More than 100 pounds

Vision Demands

Required

No special vision requirements

Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)

Distance vision (Clear vision at 20 feet or more)

Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)

Peripheral vision

Depth perception

Ability to adjust focus

Salary.com Estimation for Cooker Operator in Russellville, KY
$30,819 to $38,297
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Cooker Operator?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Cooker Operator career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$32,824 - $40,571
Income Estimation: 
$38,848 - $47,384
Income Estimation: 
$38,344 - $47,165
Income Estimation: 
$37,157 - $47,352
Income Estimation: 
$35,852 - $45,069
Income Estimation: 
$43,603 - $55,670
Income Estimation: 
$53,120 - $69,174
Income Estimation: 
$50,113 - $64,377
Income Estimation: 
$61,656 - $78,069
Income Estimation: 
$59,875 - $77,824

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Cooker Operator.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Emergency Management Skill

    • Income Estimation: $69,185 - $95,783
    • Income Estimation: $70,556 - $92,171
  • Quality Control/Testing Skill

    • Income Estimation: $74,152 - $98,929
    • Income Estimation: $78,604 - $105,860
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Darling Ingredients Inc.

  • Darling Ingredients Inc. Kansas, KS
  • Job Summary The General Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire plant operation that processes feed ingredients into high quality products, ensuri... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Darling Ingredients Inc. Des Moines, IA
  • Job Summary The Maintenance position performs preventive and corrective maintenance in the plant under management supervision. Essential Duties/Responsibil... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Darling Ingredients Inc. Grapeland, TX
  • Job Summary The Maintenance position performs preventive and corrective maintenance in the plant under management supervision. Essential Duties/Responsibil... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Darling Ingredients Inc. Houston, TX
  • Company Details Darling Ingredients repurposes and recycles materials from the animal agriculture and food industries - transforming them into essential in... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Cooker Operator jobs in the Russellville, KY area that may be a better fit.

  • Ryder princeton, KY
  • Position Description Ryder is hiring a Sit-down Forklift Operator in Princeton, Kentucky — offering weekly pay, excellent benefits, and a career you can fe... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Evonik Calvert, KY
  • What We Offer Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life ... more
  • 6 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!