Pilot Plant Worker

About the role

The Pilot Plant Worker supports production in a clean manufacturing environment that produces dog and cat food and treats. This role focuses on sanitation, basic manufacturing tasks, and assisting compounder operators with daily operations, including handling raw materials, performing basic lab sampling, and supporting dry ingredient receiving and recording. The work environment is a clean room setting with strong pet food smells during production runs, requiring frequent and thorough cleaning and sanitizing of floors, equipment, walls, and other surfaces. Handling raw animal products such as livers, chicken, and beef scrap is required, and occasional work in a freezer area occurs with provided jackets and warm gear. The position involves time in production areas, dry ingredient receiving, warehouse spaces, and movement between the pilot plant and analytical lab. It is a fully onsite role based in Thompson's Station, TN.

Responsibilities

• Perform extensive cleaning and sanitizing of floors, machines, walls, components, and other production areas to maintain a clean room manufacturing environment.
• Assist advanced-level compounder operators with daily production operations, following established procedures and safety guidelines.
• Mix cleaning solutions according to instructions and sanitize machines between production runs to ensure proper hygiene and equipment readiness.
• Handle and stage raw materials and ingredients such as whey, protein, corn, flour, liver, chicken, and beef scrap for use in production.
• Weigh materials accurately and record sample data to support quality and production tracking requirements.
• Conduct basic lab sampling and pulling of product and ingredient samples and transport them between the pilot plant and the analytical lab area.
• Receive dry ingredients and other materials inbound into the Dry Ingredients area and record receipts using a computer system.
• Assist with warehouse activities, including organizing and moving incoming pallets and materials as needed.
• Train on and safely operate a forklift to move pallets and materials within the facility once training is completed.
• Support mixer and blending operations by preparing ingredients, monitoring processes, and communicating any issues to operators.
• Follow all quality, sanitation, and safety procedures and report any deviations or hazards to appropriate personnel.
• Collaborate with team members to ensure smooth production runs and timely completion of cleaning and material handling tasks.

Skills

• Minimum experience in manufacturing and/or sanitation in a production or warehouse environment.
• Ability to perform thorough cleaning and sanitizing of equipment, floors, walls, and production areas.
• Capability to handle raw animal products such as livers, chicken, and beef scrap while following safety and hygiene protocols.
• Basic skills in weighing materials and accurately recording data for production and quality purposes.
• Comfort working in a facility that produces pet food, including exposure to strong food-related smells during production runs.
• Ability to perform basic computer data entry for recording inbound materials and inventory information.
• Willingness and ability to learn forklift operation and follow safe material handling practices.
• Capacity to support mixer and blending operations, including handling dry ingredients and assisting machine operators.
• Attention to detail and adherence to quality and sanitation standards in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in production, manufacturing, or warehouse settings, especially involving food or ingredient handling.
• Background in mixer or blending operations, including working as a mixer operator or blending operator.
• Experience with dry ingredient handling, weighing materials, and documenting inventory or production data.
• Familiarity with machine operation, quality checks, and sanitation procedures in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with compounder operators, machine operators, and lab staff to support pilot plant activities.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $18.00 - $18.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement