SKILLED FLEX OPERATOR

Role and Responsibilities

General Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with GMPs, food safety policies, HACCP requirements, allergen controls, and plant safety procedures.
• Support production needs by working in multiple departments as assigned.
• Maintain accurate documentation and production records.
• Communicate effectively with Leads, Supervisors, QA, and team members to ensure operational efficiency.
• Assist with training employees on standard operating procedures within assigned work areas.
• Perform housekeeping duties including cleaning equipment, removing trash, and maintaining organized work areas.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by Production Leadership.

Kettle Operations Support

• Inspect and verify raw materials for production batches.
• Weigh and verify ingredients according to batch sheets and SOP requirements.
• Operate kettles, pumps, agitation systems, steam controls, liquefiers, and related equipment.
• Monitor and document viscosity, temperature, and other required quality checks.
• Ensure product quality standards are met and promptly communicate any deviations to QA and Production Leadership.
• Clean and sanitize kettles, pumps, pipes, V-mags, and related equipment.
• Coordinate ingredient flow and batch integrity with supporting departments.

Cryovac / Fill Room Operations Support

• Assemble and disassemble packaging equipment, piping systems, magnets, and related components.
• Operate and adjust Cryovac equipment to ensure proper pouch sealing, coding, package integrity, and appearance.
• Perform and document scale verifications, magnet inspections, metal detector checks, and seal inspections.
• Monitor product flow from cooking through packaging and freezing operations.
• Inspect packaging materials and track film usage.
• Support sanitary conditions and GMP compliance throughout the fill room.
• Assist with troubleshooting equipment issues and communicating operational concerns.

Rework/Recondition Operations

• Inspect, sort, and recondition product held for quality, customer, or regulatory requirements.
• Verify product weights, pouch integrity, labels, and overall product condition.
• Remove, add, or adjust product as necessary to meet specifications.
• Identify and immediately report any foreign material findings.
• Transfer product between containers, pouches, and V-mags as required.
• Perform rework activities according to established procedures and quality standards.

Rework Team Point of Contact

• Serve as the primary liaison between Rework personnel, Production Leadership, QA, and other departments.
• Coordinate daily rework schedules and priorities.
• Monitor rework progress and communicate status updates to leadership.
• Ensure rework activities are completed accurately, safely, and efficiently.
• Assist in training and coaching team members on rework procedures and quality requirements.
• Escalate issues involving quality, food safety, equipment, or staffing concerns to management.
• Help ensure completion of rework documentation and compliance requirements.

Skills and Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Demonstrated ability to perform Kettle Cook, Cryovac Operator, and Rework/Recondition duties.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and climb for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 60 pounds.
• Ability to work in hot, cold, and wet production environments for 8-10 hour shifts.
• Basic English literacy and math skills.
• Working knowledge of food manufacturing processes and production equipment.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing production needs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Any other duty assigned by leadership.

Required Training

• HACCP
• Allergen Control
• GMP Training
• Pallet Jack Certification
• Chemical Safety Training
• Lockout/Tagout (as required)
• Additional department-specific certifications as assigned
• Safety Training

Additional Notes

This position is expected to provide operational coverage across multiple departments and may be assigned to any production area based on business needs. The Skilled Flex Operator is considered a key resource for maintaining production continuity and supporting the Rework Team's daily operations.