Position: Production Lead, 1st Shift

Hours: 6am-2:30pm

Pay: $21.00

About Wellness Pet Company

The Wellness Pet Company crafts and produces premium natural pet food, treats, and dental chews. We believe that natural, premium nutrition focused on proven health outcomes is the foundation of creating a mutual wellbeing for pets and their families. As a community of people, Wellies are positively obsessed about how to win for pets and their parents. We believe in the difference we make every single day, and we know that when we work collaboratively, Wellies are unstoppable - Not only in providing the best nutrition to pets, but in building a better tomorrow for pets, their parents, and the world.

When you join Wellness Pet, you join a team whose aligned values and purpose create a unique and exciting place to work every day. Join us on our adventure to fulfill a life of wellbeing together with pets and their parents.

Our Mishawaka manufacturing facility is committed to nutritional innovation, product quality, and safety. To ensure our product quality, we control the entire manufacturing process in Mishawaka, from consistent quality checks on all raw materials coming into the plant, to the shipment of our finished product to customers. Our employees take pride in the natural products we produce for the pets who depend on us. We offer our employees a positive, friendly work environment where you can grow your skills, competitive pay, and excellent benefits – Come for a walk with us today!

Position Summary: This is a multi-faceted role in that it is responsible for correctly, safely and efficiently packaging production. Must be able to operate, troubleshoot packaging equipment according to scheduled production needs. Set-up, operate and disassemble, processing equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and GMPs. Operate processing equipment, grinding, batching, extrusion, drying, coating, fresh meat according to scheduled production needs.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Experienced in setting up and operation of packaging equipment and processing equipment
• Experienced with equipment and use of tools to do change over’s in Packaging and Processing
• Experience with Video Jet printers
• Experience in maintaining records and logs during packaging and Processing
• Experienced in processing and Packaging quality checks on Red Zone
• Must be trained in IFS, Wonderware, WMS, Red Zone.
• Observe and assure all Techs maintain safe, efficient machine operation on all production lines
• Must be able to operate and disassemble, processing and packaging equipment in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and GMPs
• Experience with Outlook 365 so production updates and summaries are sent to the leadership team
• Follow and hold others accountable for following all company Good Manufacturing Practices.
• All other duties as assigned

Workplace Safety:

• Completes safety system documentation and verifies compliance to program standards. Reports deviations to Supervisor.
• Participates in mandatory safety trainings and adheres to all safety policies
• Required to report all safety issues, near misses, and injuries

Quality & Food Safety:

• Completes quality & food safety system documentation and verifies compliance to program standards. Reports deviations to Supervisor.
• Participates in mandatory food safety and quality training program requirements
• Preserves the integrity of the BRC system through adherence to the policies and procedures outlined. Takes actions necessary to resolve food safety and quality system deficiencies
• Required to report food safety and quality system failures and take actions necessary to preserve the BRC system.

Required Qualifications:

• Understands plant process flow.
• Positive attitude, safety mindset, strong work ethic, team builder/flexible, customer and quality focused, not easily frustrated, desire to work hands on and excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to read and understand English to be able to communicate with Supervisor/Manager and comprehend work instructions.
• Dependable with ability to work with minimal supervision
• Forklift experience and/or certification
• Sound understanding and/or experience/aptitude with packaging systems and conveying equipment
• Demonstrate mechanical aptitude
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively and in a positive manner
• Demonstrate ability to work well in teams and as a leader when Supervisor is absent
• Demonstrate willingness to assume extended job responsibility and exercise good judgment in decision making
• Must possess effective written and oral communication skills and be able to handle multiple projects within limited time frames
• Excellent attention to detail
• Able to work according to production schedule, overtime may be required
• Strong inter-personal and team building skills
• Sufficient computer skills to operate and adjust machine to meet product specifications.
• Ability to lift 35-50 pounds, stand, walk, push/pull up to 50 pounds, reach overhead, and bend to the floor
• Some form of technical education which emphasizes strong analytical thinking preferred

The Wellness Pet Company is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or Veteran status.