Job Description

Why Join Us?

Are you an experienced manufacturing professional who leads by example and thrives on helping others succeed? We are looking for a knowledgeable, proactive Production Lead to help guide our daily operations and support our team.

In this key leadership role, you won't just oversee tasks—you will be the go-to expert across the floor, mentoring team members, maintaining our highest standards of safety and quality, and ensuring our production flows smoothly from start to finish. If you take pride in operational excellence, enjoy driving continuous improvement, and want a stable, growth-oriented role with a great team, apply today!

What We Offer (Benefits & Perks)

We take care of the people who take care of our business. Your peace of mind and well-being matter to us, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.

• Fast Coverage: Health and welfare benefits become available on the first of the month following your hire date—no long waiting periods!

• Comprehensive Health: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to keep you and your family healthy.

• Financial Protection: Life insurance and identity protection insurance for added peace of mind.

• Generous Time Off: Recharge and spend time with family with up to 144 hours of vacation time every year (prorated during your first year).

• And More! Ask our team about additional perks and benefits during your interview.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand and support safety as the first priority.

• Dryer operation: Start up, properly operate, shut down, and cleanup of dryer, (CIP), and related equipment. Ensure proper moisture in finished product. Maintain charts and records. Is responsible for product flow, proper tank hook up, dryer box cleaning, and general upkeep.

• Evaporator: Start up, operate, shut down, and clean (CIP) evaporator, and related equipment. Monitor product for correct percentages, component composition, and temperature. Is responsible for tank hook ups and flow. Perform start up, operation, and shut down of RO.

• Separator/ HTST: Start up, operate, shut down, and clean separators, (CIP), cream. Perform duties of pasteurizing all milk products. Make the required tank connections.

• Bulk Room Receiver: Unload raw milk, cream, and condense. Wash tankers, silo, and lines as required as well as perform proper hook ups of tanks, silos, and lines. Monitor amount of milk products being unloaded to prevent overflow of tanks and silos

• Bulk Room Loadout: Is responsible for load out and sampling of liquid products. Wash tankers, silos, and lines; and monitor flow of product. Ensure correct product is loaded and bill of lading is completed correctly. Ensure that all tankers have properly filled out wash tags and seals

• Powder Bagger: Fill, weigh, seal, and palletize milk powder. Keep accurate and legible records.

• Warehouse and Shipping: Ensure that powder orders are shipped accurately, and warehouse is well organized and clean.

• Ensure compliance with all company policies, local, state, and federal regulations.

• Ensure the following facility programs are followed: Safety, Food Safety, GMP, Preventive Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Sanitation

• Help ensure all policies and procedures for the American Institute of Baking (AIB), Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Quality Assurance International (QAI – organic) are followed

• Understand each step of product flow through the entire facility and teach it

• Know how to start, run, shut down, troubleshoot, and CIP the entire process

• Maintain a safe, clean, organized work area throughout the facility and office area

• Fill in for vacationing, sick, or otherwise vacant production positions, with little or no notice at times

• Participate in plant committees, including safety and food safety

• Safeguard and protect all company assets in his or her care

• Demonstrate good judgment in safeguarding customer, company, vendor, and employee information

• Maintain a cooperative working relationship with customers, vendors, employees, and peers

• Handle difficult situations professionally

• Consistently show the ability to recognize and deal with priorities

• Maintain a well-groomed, professional appearance for the position and the situation

• Safeguard and protect all company assets and proprietary information.

• Maintain cooperative working relationships and communications with employees from all other departments and peers

• Dedicate effort to safety as we expect every employee to leave work in the same condition as they arrive

• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements

• Exhibit the values and ethics of Dairy Farmers of America through honesty, discretion, and sound judgment

• Adhere to all DFA Quality, Safety and GMP policies and procedures and report any nonconformity

• Attend required training, including but not limited to, Safety, GMP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Safe Quality Foods (SQF)

• Responsible for food safety

• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

• Other duties may be assigned as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED

• Associates Degree or two years of college preferred

• 2 yearsof experience in a production or manufacturing environment

• demonstrated leadership attributed or team lead experience

• Certification and/or License – None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge company computer systems, specifically SAP

• Skill in proficient computer usage

• Able to lead a work group

• Able to operate a forklift

• Able to use and understand calculations, production rates and fluid inventories

• Able to perform routine machine adjustments

• Able to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both verbally and in writing

• Able to be proactive in seeking solutions

• Able to work in collaboration effectively and foster good teamwork

• Able to follow directions and meet deadlines

• Able to take appropriate steps to find solutions to problems

• Able to present options and ideas to current processes or procedures

• Able to interpret and apply company policies

• Able to adapt and manage to change effectively

• Able to perform task and duties without constant supervision

• Initiative – shows willingness and aptitude to use own discretion in taking appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. Takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.

• Integrity – Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Dairy Farmers of America. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.

• Cooperativeness – Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly share relevant information with others.

• Flexibility – Is open to changing situations and is willing to perform all tasks when and where assigned.

• Independence – Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without constant supervision.

• Maintains a positive “can do” outlook

• Understanding of basic office applications (e.g., MS Office)

• Must be able to read, write, and speak English.