Packer Operator II - Pellet Mills

About the role

The Packer Machine Operator II is a skilled production team member responsible for independently operating, monitoring, and maintaining robotic packing and palletizing equipment to package BBQ wood pellets in 20- and 40-pound bags. This position ensures product quality, machine performance, and material flow while supporting continuous improvement and mentoring junior operators. Operator II is also responsible for using forklifts to transport finished goods to storage, identifying issues in the packing process, and collaborating with maintenance or supervisory staff when needed.

Responsibilities

• Independently set up and operate automated bagging equipment with minimal supervision.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting on robotic and mechanical packing systems and escalate only complex issues to maintenance.
• Monitor bag weights, seals, label accuracy, and ensure proper adjustments to maintain product consistency.
• Perform line changeovers and minor mechanical fixes as required for bag size or product type.
• Set up, monitor, and adjust the robotic palletizing system based on production requirements.
• Maintain palletizing alignment, stacking patterns, and shrink-wrap quality to ensure safe and stable shipping.
• Troubleshoot common robotic palletizer issues and collaborate with maintenance on system performance enhancements.
• Operate forklifts to stage empty pallets, move completed pallets to storage, and manage packaging material supply at the line.
• Accurately record and report packaging output and downtime in production logs or digital tracking systems.
• Assist with the onboarding and training of Packer Machine Operator I team members.
• Recommend and participate in continuous improvement initiatives and 5S efforts within the packaging area.
• Communicate recurring equipment or product issues to shift leaders to drive long-term solutions.
• Follow all plant safety policies including PPE use, LOTO, and safe equipment handling.
• Perform daily equipment checks and basic preventative maintenance to ensure safe operation.
• Participate in safety huddles, quality checks, and incident reporting as required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in automated or robotic packaging, preferably in an industrial or manufacturing setting.
• Current forklift certification or ability to obtain within 30 days.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot minor equipment problems and perform line changeovers independently.
• Ability to lift up to 50