Pay Rate: $26.93 per hour plus Shift Differential: $1.50 per hour

Shift & Working Hours: 4:45 PM to 5:15 AM; Weekends/Overtime/Holidays as needed.

Sign on Bonus:$1500 - $250 paid after 30 days of employment. $500 paid after 6 months of employment. $750 paid after 12 months of employment.

In this role, you will be a key member of our Land O'Lakes, Inc. manufacturing team, performing front-line production processes that add value and quality to the inputs and creation of final high-quality products. You will gain skills and experience of taking raw materials to produce our final products for customers. This will include operating machinery and equipment, packaging the final product. Join our team to become part of a member-owned co-op that is Rooted in Tomorrow.

The Deck Operator role oversees the cheese-making process, including milk pasteurization, vat operations, and sanitation procedures. Responsibilities include monitoring acidity and pH, ensuring accurate ingredient measurements, conducting clean-in-place (CIP) between fills, and maintaining compliance with safety and quality standards. The position requires coordination with various teams, accurate documentation, and active participation in continuous improvement efforts. Cross-training as a starter operator is included.

This role is part of our Dairy Food business who creates dairy products that stand for real, simple goodness.We believe there's power in every drop of milk our farmers produce, and by improving production and finding innovative uses for that milk, we add a little good to people's lives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performance of job duties may include any one or more operator roles as needed on the assigned team/shift. This position will cross train as a starter operator.
• Able to perform startup (including HACCP documentation), operation, shutdown and CIP of milk pasteurizer.
• Insure proper recipes, ingredient amounts and parameters are in place for vat process.
• CIP vats between each fill.
• Monitor acidity and pH of each vat.
• Coordinate vat deck activities and communicate with DMC operators, TQ Leaders and Whey department.
• Generate accurate, complete make records and pasteurizer documentation.
• Follow all sanitation and quality SOP's to ensure all equipment is clean and ready for production.
• LEAN Manufacturing - Contribute to a continuous improvement environment by participating in activities to include line side problem solving.
• Participate in 5S program to contribute to a safe and organized work environment.
• Ensure accuracy and timely completion of all department paperwork
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP guidelines and LQMS requirements
• Actively contribute to a behavioral based safety culture by completing a minimum of one behavioral observation (BOS) per month.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of machine operations and overall production process
• Other duties as assigned by Shift Lead or Production Manager

Required Experience and Skills:

• Must be 18 years or older.

• 1 year or more of work experience in any industry

• Basic computer and math skills

• Able to read, write, comprehend, follow verbal and written instructions in English.

• Willingness to learn new skills, problem-solve and troubleshoot.

• Strong collaboration, communication skills, and is always respectful.

Experience:

• 1+ year of manufacturing work experience

• Prior high-speed, high-tech manufacturing experience

Physical Requirements for production positions regularly include:

• Able to lift/carry up to 50 pounds.

• Frequent movement including walking, standing, bending/stooping, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling, raising arms, lifting, climbing and other active movements.

• Performing duties while wearing personal protective equipment

• Working in temperature zones that include cold and/or hot environments for extended periods and may include areas where dust and chemicals are present.

• Required to work scheduled shift which may include weekends, some holidays, and periodic overtime.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O'Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.