Extruder Operator - Bluffton, IN

At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and long-standing partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands-on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross-brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.

We are mixing up something new in Bluffton, IN. This is an exciting time to join our team. We hold ourselves to the highest of quality standards. Each bag of Dot’s Pretzels tastes as if they were made straight from the home kitchen of Dot herself. Our foundation is built on relationships. We are family. We believe in our employees and lead by example. The Dot’s Pretzels brand has seen an enormous amount of growth, so we are looking for employees to become a part of our team in the Bluffton, IN location.

About the role

Responsible for mixing, extruding, baking, and flavoring of a cornmeal blend into flavored products, such as cheese twists, cheese curls, cheese balls, etc.

Responsibilities

• Set up extruding machines and/or changes in tooling by ascertaining correct settings via recipe, computer screens, customer demands, and line sheet details.
• Set up extruding machines by installing stators, feed screws, dies, and flow plates by following the tooling sheet.
• Visually inspect extruded/coated product for defects, such as: incorrect shape, too wet/dry, length, thickness, obvious defects caused by mechanical failure/breakage, heavy/light coating etc.—then adjusting machine computer controls to correct.
• Perform hourly quality checks by weighing product bulk densities and recording statistics.
• Perform minor/preventative maintenance on machines such as clearing chutes/feeders, replacing defective tooling, wiping, cleaning machine areas, replacing hoses, and visual inspection for wear.
• Utilize precision-measurement devices such as moisture meters, table rulers, digital scales, and other gauges.
• Monitor various dials, gauges, digital displays, control panels, and computer screens.
• Perform 5S cleaning procedures and keep work areas clean by general housekeeping during the shift.
• Operate material handling equipment such as hand carts, scissors/man lifts, overhead bag lift.
• Process scrap/waste during each shift.
• Track and record daily production, material usage, and quality data as required daily.
• Follow OSHA and general safety procedures when working with ingredients.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age at time of hire.
• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 1-month experience or training in related field.
• Basic math skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Skills

• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Frequently required to stand and walk.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Pay

• Weekly pay.
• $500 sign-on bonus for eligible candidates.

Schedule

• Night shift available: 12-hour shifts (7pm-7am).
• Working 3-4 days/week (One week: Sun, Wed, Thurs; Next week: Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat). This is a 2-2-3 schedule (2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off rotation).

Benefits

• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, & Vision) starting day 30.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan.
• Quarterly Perfect Attendance earns a paid day off.
• Quarterly Incentive Plan based on Safety and Quality Goals and Activities.
• $1000 referral bonus.
• Paid Time Off.