Mixing Operator/ Production Operator- 1st Shift 5AM to 3:30PM (Monday to Friday)

Hourly position • Whitehall, Ohio • Production department • Reports to Production Supervisor

About the Company

Cérélia operates a state‑of‑the‑art commercial bakery and production facility in Whitehall, Ohio, a 150,000‑square‑foot plant that opened in September 2021 and serves as the U.S. manufacturing hub for the Jus‑Rol brand. The Whitehall facility specializes in ready‑to‑bake chilled dough products—including pizza dough, pie crusts, puff pastry, and cookie dough—and continues to expand with new product lines to support national growth. Team members enjoy modern onsite amenities such as a fitness center and EV charging stations, all within a clean, innovative, and fast‑growing environment. While the Whitehall plant is new, Cérélia’s roots trace back to 1974, evolving from a France‑based bakery into an international leader in dough innovation.

About the Role

Detail‑oriented and safety‑focused individual responsible for operating and monitoring production equipment in a food manufacturing environment. The Production Operator ensures efficient, consistent, and high‑quality production by following standard operating procedures, maintaining equipment, and adhering to food safety, quality, and sanitation standards. This role plays a critical part in meeting production targets while supporting continuous improvement, workplace safety, and customer specifications.

Responsibilities

• Inspects equipment prior to start mixing to ensure it is in working condition and free of any foreign material or damage.
• Documents observations on start‑up and shutdown checklists on a mobile app or tablet.
• Ensures consistency on all doughs by adjusting processing equipment to meet quality standards and customers’ specifications.
• Documents lot numbers, raw dough temperatures, and fat percentages; communicates to the production supervisor any product or ingredient deviations.
• Performs on‑line bake‑offs and verifies results against quality standards.
• Reports any accidents or maintenance issues to the production supervisor.
• Follows standard operating procedures to operate various pieces of high‑speed and/or high‑tech processing and packaging equipment.
• Diagnoses and troubleshoots problems with machinery or equipment operation and partners with maintenance technicians to resolve issues.
• Calibrates processing and packaging systems as required to meet required specifications.
• Maintains clean and organized work area(s) during production.
• Performs changeovers and end‑of‑run cleans including disassembly and reassembly of necessary equipment as needed.
• Familiar with using an SAP‑based barcode scanner and system (preferred but not required; training provided).
• Logs downtime and other maintenance issues into CMMS system to track and trend equipment breakdowns and production issues for continuous improvement projects.
• Performs other duties as directed by supervision.
• Follows established programs, policies, and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet SQF, regulatory, company, and customer requirements.
• Performs quality control tests and ensures dough meets quality standards and customers’ specifications.
• Reports to the production supervisor any issues or suggestions to improve quality performance or the working environment.
• Follows company safety policies and practices fostering a safe workplace and environment.
• Makes safety a priority while carrying out daily activities.
• Understands and follows all Lock Out Tag Out standard operating procedures.
• Reports any unsafe acts or conditions to immediate production superior.
• Understands cleaning chemicals and their handling procedures.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and sanitary working environment at all times.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or Equivalent (preferred)
• Strong math and reading skills; must be able to read, write, and speak English
• 1–3 years of prior manufacturing experience; food manufacturing is a plus
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment and adapt to frequent changes on the production line
• Ability to follow written instructions in English
• Ability to operate machinery and equipment
• Basic computer skills and ability to use mobile apps
• Flexibility to work off‑shifts, including days or nights, weekends, or holidays
• Ability to work in a team environment; team player
• Reliable, self‑motivated, and quick learner

Other Skills

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Interacts professionally with honesty, integrity, and respect

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while performing production or warehouse tasks
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds regularly as part of material handling, product movement, or equipment operation
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, reach, grasp, and twist as needed to perform job duties such as loading products, handling materials, or operating machinery
• Capable of working in varying temperature environments, including warm production areas, refrigerated rooms, and cold storage spaces
• Ability to visually inspect products, labels, equipment, and documentation, with or without corrective lenses
• Ability to operate or learn to operate production and/or warehouse equipment, which may include pallet jacks, conveyor systems, or other machinery
• May require use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, hairnets, hearing protection, safety glasses, and steel‑toe shoes when working in production or warehouse areas
• Ability to work in a food manufacturing and distribution environment where pork products, alcohol, gluten, dairy, and common allergens—including tree nuts and peanuts—are present
• Role may involve working overtime, weekends, or varying shifts based on operational needs

Core Competencies

• Creative Thinking: Re‑examining traditional strategies and practices, proactively looking for new ideas and ways to improve products, services, and work processes; seeing patterns and themes not immediately apparent to others.
• Information Seeking: Investigates and researches information, digs to resolve discrepancies; obtains information or opinions internally and externally to gain insight or expertise for well‑informed decisions.
• Initiative: Initiates courses of action that lead to improved performance/effectiveness; sees a need and takes action; questions the way things are done and initiates changes where necessary; sticks with an issue until resolved.
• Self‑confidence: Willing to take on new challenges displaying confidence and enthusiasm; emphasizes the positive and upside aspects of difficult situations.
• Results Oriented & Can‑Do Attitude: Strives to beat or meet project deadlines; sets own high standards for quality; seeks ways to use time and resources more cost‑effectively; highly organized with ability to set priorities and multi‑task.
• Team Leadership: Works cooperatively with others promoting team participation; creates environment and processes for the team to build capacity; builds team expertise, skills, knowledge, and performance; ensures understanding, consensus, and input by keeping team members informed.