Machine Operator - 1st Shift

About Old Souls Farms

Old Souls Farm is a growing food processing and packaging company based in St. Paris, Ohio. Founded in 2017, we started with a simple mission—produce high-quality food with care and consistency—and have since expanded to serve major national brands. With a team of over 250 employees, we take pride in hard work, reliability, and creating opportunities for people who want to build something meaningful together.

Job Summary

The purpose of the Machine Operator is to operate machines and systems integral to daily operation of a Production Team. This includes machine setup, operation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and teardown, as well as maintaining food quality standards and safety.

Responsibilities/Accountability Standards

• Follow Direction from Processing Supervisor.
• Processing Supervisor will provide direction for daily tasks, supply task schedule, and administer daily workflow including breaks/lunches.
• Engineering and Maintenance will provide training and user manuals for all new machines and systems.
• Handle all raw and finished product with extreme care, do not spill product on the floor.
• Follow facility Processing Sanitation Protocol before and during operations, and before entering any OSF processing facility.
• Ensure Produce Quality Standards are maintained at all times during operations.
• Read and understand the OSF Employee Manual.
• Act in accordance with OSF Values (Trust/Respect/Care) described in OSF Employee Manual

Machine Setup

• Assemble machine parts (if necessary) to prepare for operation such as film, labels, or corrugate into machine (if necessary) to prepare for production.
• Ensure machine controls are properly configured to run the correct product recipe (if necessary).
• Verify proper operation prior to production run by testing machine.

Machine Operation/Monitoring

• Operate your machine safely and efficiently during all production runs.
• Monitor machine operation while running to ensure downtime is minimized.
• Optimize machine operation during all production runs
• Monitor product quality as it is produced/ran by your assigned machine.

Machine Troubleshooting and Maintenance

• Familiarize yourself with all parts and systems of your assigned machine.
• Perform basic Preventative Maintenance work on your assigned machine as directed by Maintenance.
• Recognize when your assigned machine is displaying signs of abnormal operation and perform Basic
• Troubleshooting Protocol to diagnose or repair issues.
• Report any signs of abnormal operation to Processing/Packaging Lead immediately.

Quality Control

• Actively monitor finished and raw product quality as it moves through your assigned machine
• Sort and discard foreign objects and contamination from finished or raw product as directed by the Processing Supervisor.
• Report any major violations of Produce Quality Standards immediately to the Processing Supervisor.

Machine Teardown

• Disassemble your assigned machine after a production run is complete.
• Prepare your machine for the Sanitation Team by covering/bagging any non-washdown rated components.
• Inspect your assigned machine for any signs of wear or potential areas of failure after production run is complete.

General Sanitation

• Maintain a clean work environment at all times, no matter your position or job in the processing room.
• Sweep dirt and debris from processing room floors as directed by Processing Lead.
• Discard waste/trash in provided bins as directed by Processing Lead.

Basic Job Requirements

• Able to prove 18 years of age or older.
• Able to prove status as U.S. Citizen, legal migrant to the U.S., or permanent resident of the U.S.
• Able to work overtime/weekends (if necessary) to complete daily required tasks.
• Able to take direction and carry out orders.
• Able to communicate clearly.
• Able to accept criticism/coaching and act accordingly.

Physical Job Requirements (Must Be Able to):

• Stand and move on hard surfaces for extended periods of time.
• Lift and move 1 to 50 pounds repeatedly.
• Lift up to 50 pounds from the floor.
• Squat, crouch, kneel, and reach repeatedly over the course of a working day.
• Withstand cold temperatures for extended periods of time (as low as 34°F).