Production Floor Trainer 1st Shift

About the role

Join a Legacy. Build the Future.

Catania Oils, a fourth-generation, family-owned business with 125 years of excellence in the edible oils industry, is seeking a passionate and driven Production Floor Trainer to join our 1st shift team.

Responsibilities

• Provide structured, hands-on training to new and existing employees on equipment setup, startup, operation, shutdown, cleaning, product changeovers, basic troubleshooting, work instructions, SOPs, and standardized work.
• Train employees on filling equipment, capping systems, labeling machines, date coding equipment, vision inspection systems, case packers, palletizers, conveyors, retail and industrial packaging lines, and related support equipment.
• Evaluate operator knowledge and hands-on competency; certify employees before independent operation and coordinate refresher training or retraining when required.
• Develop and support cross-training plans that improve workforce flexibility; identify skill gaps and mentor employees during their transition to independent operation.
• Adapt training methods to employees with varying experience levels, learning styles, and language needs while maintaining consistent performance standards.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to develop, update, and maintain work instructions, one-point lessons, job aids, and other production training materials.
• Under the direction of the Director of Safety, teach and reinforce safe work practices, required PPE, role-appropriate Lockout/Tagout procedures and awareness, OSHA requirements, GMPs, HACCP principles, allergen controls, food safety practices and expectations.
• Observe work behaviors, correct unsafe practices immediately, and report or escalate hazards and safety concerns through the appropriate channels.
• Ensure trainees understand equipment-specific hazards, required inspections, and the proper response to abnormal or unsafe conditions.
• Support new-employee onboarding, production line startups, product changeovers, and the implementation of new equipment, processes, or work methods.
• Spend the majority of the workday on the production floor observing operators and providing immediate coaching to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and consistency.
• Partner with Maintenance during equipment training and help employees distinguish routine operator adjustments from conditions requiring maintenance support.
• Reinforce standardized best practices that reduce startup and changeover downtime, prevent operator errors, minimize waste, and improve reliability.
• Participate in problem-solving, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement activities that strengthen workforce capability and operating performance.
• Provide production support during staffing shortages when assigned, without compromising essential training responsibilities, and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or GED, some college or higher learning preferred
• Three to five years of manufacturing experience, including at least two years operating multiple packaging or production lines
• Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to understand equipment operation and perform basic troubleshooting
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of OSHA requirements, GMPs, HACCP principles, and food safety practices
• Ability to train employees with varying levels of experience and work effectively across Production, Quality, Maintenance, Sanitation, Safety/EHS
• Ability to maintain accurate, timely, and organized training documentation
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the manufacturing facility
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds
• Ability to climb stairs and access production platforms as required
• Ability to work in hot, cold, and noisy production environments and wear all required PPE

Preferred Qualifications

• Food manufacturing or packaging experience
• Previous experience training, mentoring, or qualifying manufacturing employees
• Train-the-Trainer certification or equivalent instructor development experience
• Experience with standard work and or root cause analysis
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills