General Labor

AMPI owns eight Midwest-based manufacturing plants where 10 percent of the nation’s American-type cheese, processed cheese and butter is produced. The cooperative’s award-winning cheese, butter and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. In 2019, the co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled buttermakers and cheesemakers.

JOB SUMMARY:

The primary role of a Powder Bagger is to safely bag and seal non-fat dried milk, stack pallets of bags, and place the pallets on the staging floor at or above production and quality standards while maintaining a safe, clean work environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time:

1. All AMPI employees have an obligation to report employee safety, food safety and food quality issues to personnel of authority.
2. This position has a heightened food safety and food quality responsibilities.
3. Properly weigh, seal & palletize each bag within specifications; report any nonconformity.
4. Monitor bag weights & check for sediment in powder; report any nonconformity.
5. Deliver neatly palletized bags to warehouse
6. Properly stencil and lot code bags as needed
7. Perform cleaning and proper sanitization of the dryer
8. Maintain good housekeeping and cleanup of equipment, supplies in bagging and work areas throughout the plant.
9. Maintain proper documentation in all formats of recordkeeping
10. Adhere to all aspects of company and customer safety, sanitation, and site policies.
11. Assists with training new employees.
12. Provides assistance to the maintenance personnel, when needed, for machine repairs or troubleshooting.
13. Adhere to all Quality and Food Safety policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity
14. Adhere to all Safety policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity
15. Adhere to all GMP policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

 REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

The following are required competencies of the position that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job:

• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to adapt effectively within a continually changing and demanding environment
• Possess traits of honesty, integrity, creativity, and flexibility.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the products manufactured and the processes involved.
• Basic understanding of equipment operations and minor troubleshooting ability.
• Must be able to demonstrate an ability and willingness to communicate effectively in order to maintain high levels of confidentiality, safety, health, quality and efficiency.
• Ability to read and comprehend standard operating procedures and company guidelines to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Ability to understand daily production needs.
• Demonstrated strong teamwork skills, with the ability to lead, participate, and/or work directly with cross-functional teams and/or individuals.
• Ability to work independently, multi-task, and prioritize.
• Ability to perform at a high level in a fast-paced environment with the ability to adapt to a continually changing environment.
• Detail oriented, be quality minded.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) preferred.
• Relevant work experience preferred.
• Technical knowledge of fluid milk, cheese, and drying operations preferred.
• Prior experience in the dairy or cheese industry is preferred
• Food manufacturing, material handling and forklift operation experience preferred
• Must be able to maintain a valid forklift operator license
• Prior experience in manufacturing is a plus.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP's, OSHA and loss control programs is highly desirable

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Manufacturing – Work is performed in a manufacturing plant. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to: use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee will frequently have to walk and stand. The employee should have the ability to regularly lift up to 55lbs.  The employee must occasionally be able to push and pull up to 75lbs. Must be able to climb ladders and work at elevations above 4 feet. Employees are regularly exposed to cold temperatures when performing tasks in storage areas. Employees are regularly exposed to warm or hot temperatures with moderate to high humidity levels varying based on the location of the work area. The employee is regularly exposed to wet walking surfaces. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Manufacturing - Employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock, wet work conditions, fumes, or airborne particles. Employee is occasionally exposed to warm conditions with regular exposure to temperature conditions in excess of 100*F or cold temperatures when working in cold storage areas. The employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts. Employee is regularly exposed to chemicals during sanitation processes. The noise level in the work environment is occasionally at a high level. The employee is not routinely exposed to weather conditions. The employee may be exposed to very low levels of ammonia.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Personal protective equipment is required depending on the job being performed, including protective eye wear, or face shields, hearing protection, hair and beard nets, uniforms, and footwear. Additional equipment is required when working with chemicals, such as rubber gloves and use of chemical proof aprons as appropriate for the job being performed.

AMPI offers competitive starting pay, PTO, 401k, short-term disability, health, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance programs and more.

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.