Production Machine Operator, Blue Buffalo - General Mills

General Mills, Inc. manufactures some of the most beloved foods in the world, including Cheerios and Lucky Charms, Nature Valley granola bars, Totino's pizza rolls, and Yoplait yogurt. Blue Buffalo became part of General Mills in 2018, so even your pets love us too. We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together.

Check out why General Mills Manufacturing is the place to grow a career:

Production Machine Operator, Blue Buffalo - Joplin, MO

As a part of our manufacturing group, you will be responsible for supporting production packaging and processing operations, sanitation and participation in startup, operation, changeover and shutdown of operating equipment.

Shift hours: 

• 12-hour shifts - 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off, schedule
  • Day shift: 6:45 am to 7 pm
  • Night shift: 6:45 pm to 7 am
• Currently hiring for NIGHT shift only
• Ability and willingness to work overtime, any shift, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays
• Plant operation is 24 hours a day, 7 days per week

Pay:

• $20.50 per hour
• Up to $23.48 per hour - internal pay advancement
• Shift differential
  • Additional $1.00 per hour for hours worked between 7 pm and 7 am

Benefits:

• Up to 10 days (120 hours) of vacation annually and 11 paid company holidays
• Great paid time off benefits
• 401(k) match
• Health Insurance - includes medical, dental, vision and life
• Pet Parent Perks - includes pet insurance and pet adoption reimbursement
• And much more!

About our Location:

Located in historic Joplin, at our Joplin Pet manufacturing site we produce Blue Buffalo dog food and dog treats.  We foster a culture where we want our employees to be excited to come to work.  We have a variety of committees at our plant to engage and connect our employees.  Our Blue Rah committee hosts events throughout the year, as well as events for employees and their families.  We also partner with our local humane society for different events and volunteer work.  Blue Rah!

Our Products:

Blue Buffalo dog food, Sizzlers, Stix, Bits, Blue Bones and Wilderness Wild Bones dog treats.

What your day will look like:

• Creating high quality foods that are eaten EVERYDAY, NATIONWIDE
• Using TECHNOLOGY in an industry-leading facility
• Working with HIGH-LEVEL operators on EXPERIENCED teams that are looking to pass down their knowledge to workers WILLING TO LEARN and get paid doing it
• CHALLENGING yourself to get the JOB DONE RIGHT and gain skills to take with you to your next opportunity
  • Troubleshoot problems with machinery and partner with maintenance staff to resolve issues
  • Monitor and ensure proper batch formulas and batch procedures
  • Inventory and handling of wet ingredients, dry ingredients and/or raw frozen meat
  • Calibrate and monitor processing and packaging systems daily to meet required specifications
  • Participate in startup, setup, changeover, and shut down of operating equipment
  • Perform food safety checks and CCP monitoring activities as specified by HACCP
  • Operator a fork truck to move material in a safe and efficient manner
  • Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance
  • Assist in training new employees

What you have to offer:

• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED 
• Experience in machine operation and/or mechanical/technical skillset
• Forklift license/certification or willing to obtain one
• Experience in a manufacturing/production environment preferred

Physical requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs
• Must be able to perform physical tasks for extended periods of time including standing, walking, climbing, bending, pushing, pulling and twisting over surfaces
• Ability to climb and/or work at heights while utilizing stairs, ladders, personnel lifts, or platforms
• Ability to wear protective clothing and equipment such as safety shoes, face masks, safety glasses, hearing protection, a hard hat, a hair/beard net and gloves when required
• Willing and able to adhere to all grooming requirements necessary for a food manufacturing environment
• Ability to work in hot, cold, noisy, dusty, wet environmental working conditions
• Willing to work around industrial high-speed moving machinery
• Ability to work with allergens that might be present in a food environment
• Ability to work in a tobacco free environment