Here at West Paw, we believe creating joyful connection with both pets and people. We strive to put people first - this means that we treat people like people, and "work like a dog" doesn't mean what it used to. We enjoy the company of our teammates and believe everyone should have the opportunity to work in an environment where they feel like they matter, their work is meaningful, and they are accepted for who they are and the skills they bring to the table, regardless of their background, experience, or work history. Our network of friends at other B Corporations inspired us at West Paw to take on a more open and inclusive hiring model to our roles; so if you read the description below and feel like you don't meet 100% of the qualifications, that's ok, please apply anyway. If you feel like your background or history might hold you back, apply anyway. If you don't have a resume, that's ok - apply anyway, and we'll help you get one started. We believe in the power of people, community, and solving for tomorrow... and that starts by applying today! We'll give you a call when we have a production role available for you.

If you consider yourself to be dog's best friend, and you're looking for a place where you are welcomed, included, and valued for the work you do and unique capabilities you bring to a team, look no further than West Paw. Our Production Team Members make the magic behind tons of tail wags, worldwide! Enjoy half-days on Friday, a fun, creative, and collaborative work environment, paid holidays, company-paid insurance, and the ability to grow your wage by around 15% or more in under a year at West Paw.

This posting is for our production departments for a full-time or part-time role.

Production Team Member

At West Paw, our goal is to be “Dog’s Best Friend”. We do this by making things dogs love and by caring about how we make the things dogs love - from our own factory in beautiful Bozeman, Montana.

The talented, dog-loving, sustainability driven team at West Paw designs, manufactures, markets and ships high quality, planet and people conscious dog products to over 40 countries and 6000 retailers. Our products are proudly made by us in our eco friendly facility in Bozeman, and we pride ourselves on products that are safe, durable and made responsibly.

Beyond dogs, we care about people and the planet too. At West Paw, we envision a world where business success is friendly to people and the planet. We’re eco-friendly in our materials and manufacturing choices and people-friendly in our business choices.

We’re West Paw, a proud Certified B Corp and Dog’s Best Friend®.

To be the best fit we actively seek purpose-driven candidates that embrace the love of dogs, a curiosity to understand and passion for our vision of a better society and environment. Our best days at work often involve sharing a great dog experience that brought connection and joy.

Position Overview

The Production Team Member is an either part time or full time, hourly, non-exempt, overtime eligible position that provides superior quality manufactured pet products by working in any of the following areas (or combination of areas): Toys, Mats & Beds, Injection Molding, Packaging and/or Shipping. They are responsible for working as part of a team while assembling an entire product or component of a product, packaging product, and/or picking and shipping product orders. Production Team Members perform assigned tasks while meeting quality and efficiency standards. This role has no direct reports. It is part of the Production Department and reports to either the Production Supervisor, Warehouse Supervisor, or Shift Lead depending on shift times and production area.

Essential Responsibilities

• Function as part of the team responsible for assembly, production, packaging and/or shipping of all West Paw product orders in any of the following areas (or combination of areas): Toys, Mats & Beds, Injection Molding, Packaging, and/or Shipping
• Ensure high standards of quality and efficiency in your work and seek support when needed
• Adapt to production needs and cross-train into other areas or departments as needed
• Adhere to all documented standards and procedures in the assigned work area including safety, quality, material receiving, inventory management, production and maintenance.
• Adhere to LEAN manufacturing philosophy and methods to eliminate waste
• Embody West Paw Core Values in all work interactions, tasks, and decisions: Create Joyful Connection, Grow for Good, Humanize Business, Be Real, Solve for Tomorrow
• Uphold West Paw’s Passion in all work endeavors: We spark opportunities to unleash good
• Champion West Paw’s Niche in all work decisions: Create sustainable pet products for their devoted humans
• Other duties as assigned

Company Culture

West Paw is a small family-owned business with a strong history and new growth ahead. Through our diversified workforce, with most of us in one facility, we celebrate a collaborative, hardworking team. Our success stems from our values, our vision and purpose, and our willingness to learn and grow. We leverage Open Book Management allowing all employees to become better business people and to understand how they can further business success. We invest in financial literacy and transparency to engage employees to contribute to our current financial condition and future plans.

Our team is united in our quest for a cleaner planet, healthier communities, safe and happy pets, and transparent business practices. Everyone from production to sales to accounting and beyond rallies around our mission with a shared sense of purpose and pride. Our culture is built on relationships – with each other, our customers, our pets, our community, and our planet.

The joy of our work comes from sharing in success with people who are passionate about pets, contribute to our culture, appreciate a fast-paced atmosphere, share our values and further our vision.

Essential Ability, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements

• Able to contribute to and support West Paw’s positive culture
• Strong communication and listening skills (gains clarification, responds well to questions, participates in meetings, etc.)
• Willing and able to cross train into other areas of Production as the business need arises

Education and Experience Requirements

• Injection molding experience preferred
• Shipping and packaging experience preferred
• Commercial/industrial sewing experience preferred
  
• Product assembly experience preferred

Environmental and Physical Requirements

• Able to sit, walk, and/or stand continuously for up to 8 hours
• Able to frequently pinch and grasp materials using up to 20 lbs of force
• Able to bend, stoop, stretch, reach, push, pull, and balance materials during handling, assembly, and filling/shipping of customer orders
• Able to use step ladders and/or a forklift
• Able to frequently reach lift, move, and/or shift boxes weighing up to 40 lbs, up to 60 inches from the floor and carry the boxes up to 50 feet
• Able to pull materials downward exerting up to 20 lbs of force, 45 inches to 30 inches from the floor
• Able to apply push/pull forces up to 15 lbs, 12 inches to 40 inches from the floor
• Assist in unloading fabric trucks, lifting and/or assisting with lifting fabric rolls weighing up to 50 lbs
• Exposure to constant moderate and intermittent noise, hot surfaces (machinery, materials, and glue), sharp objects and slippery surfaces (machinery, tools, floor, etc), and varying temperatures both inside and outside the building

West Paw is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with West Paw and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to our People and Culture team (hr@westpaw.com). West Paw encourages each of our team members to understand, accept, and celebrate differences among people. That includes different personalities, lifestyles, work styles, education, and experience. We also welcome and embrace people of all races, ethnicities, ages, religions, physical abilities, sexual orientation, gender identities and genders at West Paw. If you're not sure that you meet 100% of the requirements posted above, but may bring value to the team, please apply anyway! We'd love to talk to you.