General Labor - 1st Shift

About the Role

As a General Laborer team member at Smithfield Foods, you’ll play a key role in delivering safe, high-quality food by performing essential production tasks and supporting your coworkers. Your reliability, attention to detail, and strong work ethic will help us meet our standards for safety, quality, and teamwork every day. You’ll contribute to a positive work environment, help maintain a safe and efficient production line, and ensure our products reach families across America.

Responsibilities

• Work with hand tools, knives, machinery, and other equipment to process meat products for the consumer.
• Follow oral and written instructions to perform production tasks.
• Perform physically demanding tasks, including repetitive movements, standing for up to 12-hour shifts, and lifting heavy objects (up to 60 lbs with mechanical assistance or 30 lbs repetitively).
• Maintain a safe and efficient production line while adhering to safety and quality standards.
• Work scheduled shifts and overtime as required by production demands.
• Operate in various environments, including cold (20-40 degrees), warm (over 100 degrees), wet, humid, and noisy conditions while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Work around animal blood, carcass parts, strong odors, and sanitation/cleaning chemicals.
• Climb, bend, stoop, twist, and walk long distances as part of daily tasks.
• Use knives (if trained) and other equipment, potentially requiring certification.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• At least 18 years of age.
• Willing and able to:
  • Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
  • Perform continuous/repetitive movements, including grasping, pinching, flexing, and extending arms.
  • Stand on concrete/platforms for up to a 12-hour shift.
  • Work in cold (20-40 degrees) and/or warm (over 100 degrees) environments.
  • Work in wet, humid, and noisy conditions while wearing PPE (e.g., hard hat, hearing/eye protection, steel-toed shoes).
  • Work around animal blood, carcass parts, strong smells, and sanitation chemicals.
  • Climb/move on ladders, steps, stairways, walkways, and platforms.
  • Bend, stoop, and twist repetitively over an entire shift.
  • Walk long distances.
  • Lift up to 30 lbs repetitively or up to 60 lbs with mechanical assistance.
• Good hand-eye coordination and attention to detail.
• Reliability and strong work ethic.
• Willingness to learn and contribute to a positive team environment.

Benefits

• Competitive starting pay: $22.70/hour.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• Retirement benefits.
• Education benefit available to full- and part-time team members upon meeting eligibility requirements.
• Opportunities for career growth and professional development.

Work Environment

• Physically demanding role requiring use of body parts and muscle groups.
• Exposure to cold, warm, wet, humid, and noisy environments.
• Work around animal blood, carcass parts, strong odors, and chemicals.
• Required to wear PPE, including hard hats, hearing/eye protection, and steel-toed shoes.
• May require certification for operating specific equipment.