Production Operator - Entry | 3rd Shift

Location: Downers Grove, Illinois

Pay Rate: $23.00/hour

Shift: 3rd Shift (Generally starts as early as 9:45 PM until finish. Overtime and weekend work as needed. Start times and hours may vary based on production schedules, holidays, and staffing needs.)

Requirement: Strong attendance and punctuality are essential. Employees must remain in position for a minimum of one year and successfully complete a 90-day evaluation period.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE HISTORY HERE...

As a Production Operator, you will play a critical role in producing high-quality bakery products while ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and operational standards. You will support manufacturing and packaging operations, maintain production efficiency, and help deliver safe, quality products to customers every day.

WHAT YOU WILL DO...

• Operate, monitor, set up, and adjust production equipment including moulders, dividers, proofers, ovens, slicers, baggers, and packaging machinery.
• Perform production tasks across multiple workstations, including Moulder, Pan Feeder, Bakery Support Helper (BSH), and packaging functions.
• Ensure dough and finished products meet quality, weight, appearance, and packaging specifications.
• Maintain compliance with HACCP, CTS, GMP, SOP, JSA, safety, allergen control, and traceability requirements.
• Place, remove, stack, and transport pans and pan trucks throughout production operations.
• Monitor product flow and packaging materials to ensure proper coding, bagging, wrapping, and labeling accuracy.
• Feed products into processing and packaging equipment while maintaining required line speeds.
• Troubleshoot minor operational issues and communicate concerns promptly to supervisors.
• Complete daily production communication boards and provide updates on operational issues.
• Maintain workstations and equipment according to 5S housekeeping and organizational standards.
• Assist with other production or packaging assignments as needed to support business operations.
• Support plant safety initiatives and consistently use required personal protective equipment (PPE).

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH...

• Production Supervisors and Team Leads
• Bakery Production Operators
• Packaging Team Members
• Quality Assurance and Food Safety Teams
• Maintenance and Operations Personnel
• Cross-functional manufacturing teams supporting production and packaging activities

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE... (MUST HAVE)

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two years of related manufacturing, production, food processing, or packaging experience, or equivalent training.
• Strong decision-making, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to follow detailed procedures, specifications, and food safety requirements.
• Working knowledge of food manufacturing standards including HACCP, GMP, SOP, CTS, and workplace safety practices.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced production environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to work overtime, weekends, and schedule variations as required by operational needs.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive physical tasks.
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and push/pull heavy loads on wheeled dollies.
• Ability to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, crawl, reach, and use hands and arms to operate equipment and handle materials.
• Strong teamwork skills and commitment to workplace safety, quality, and productivity.
• Ability to work in environments with moving machinery, industrial noise, temperature fluctuations, airborne particles, vibration, forklift traffic, and wet conditions.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE... (NICE TO HAVE)

• Previous experience in commercial bakery, food manufacturing, or high-speed production environments.
• Experience operating automated production, processing, or packaging equipment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, including 5S workplace organization.
• Experience with product quality inspections, weight verification, and packaging verification processes.
• Familiarity with production documentation, communication boards, and traceability systems.
• Demonstrated ability to perform multiple production functions and cross-train across manufacturing operations.