Empirical Foods

Meat processing, lean ground beef producer

Equipment Operator

Machine & Process OperationConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeGarden City, KS, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

Basic math skills.
General knowledge of computers and software is preferred.
Strong mechanical aptitude.
Good observation skills and the ability to troubleshoot problems.
Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
Ability to work independently as well as with others.
Ability to ask questions regarding unfamiliar tasks.
Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels, both in written and verbal form.
Regular and punctual attendance.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, climb, twist, reach, bend, and lift.
Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 60 pounds.
Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including weekends.
A high school diploma or equivalent, or verifiable ability to perform the essential job functions.

Responsibilities

Monitor and control the operation of equipment, people, and processes to meet production and sanitation requirements, ensuring equipment operates optimally and meets safety and quality assurance standards.
Communicate production issues and issues arising during equipment teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding to plant management immediately.
Assist with equipment teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding, and ensure timely and efficient equipment startup to maintain production schedules.
Set up panels and equipment properly for production.
Monitor equipment displays to confirm proper operation and material processing; immediately notify management of problems or correct them as appropriate.
Follow procedures and processes established by ownership.
Maintain smooth shift transitions and communicate relevant information to prevent production interruptions.
Maintain cleanliness of the plant and work areas.
Work with other departments to resolve issues and complete tasks.
Provide stewardship and oversight of machine-center upkeep and reliability as required.
Provide backup leadership to the supervisor as required.
Perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

A minimum of one year of plant production experience or equivalent is preferred.

Overview

Operate many pieces of large industrial equipment that are used in the operation of the facility. Each equipment operator will be assigned and trained in the operation of one or more pieces of equipment. This position will monitor and control the operation of equipment. Communicate to plant management of any issues during production, assist in teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding of equipment, ensuring timely and efficient startup.

Responsibilities

Responsible for monitoring and controlling the operation of equipment, people, and processes required to meet production and sanitation requirements. Ensure that equipment is performing at optimal levels and in accordance with all safety and quality assurance standards. Maintain situational awareness.
Immediately communicate to plant management of any issues during production or the teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding of equipment.
Assist in teardown, cleaning, and rebuilding of equipment. Responsible for efficient and timely startup of equipment required to maintain production schedules. Maintain high quality and safety standards. Set up panels and equipment properly for production.
Perform detailed monitoring of equipment displays to ensure the equipment is properly operating and processing the material, as required, to provide a quality finished product. Immediately notify management or correct any problems. Use critical thinking skills appropriate for role.
Will maintain the integrity and follow procedures and processes put into place by ownership. Responsible for smooth shift transitions and full communication of related items to ensure production is not interrupted.
Maintain cleanliness of plant and work areas.
Required to accurately communicate issues and effectively work with other departments to solve problems and complete tasks.
As required, provide stewardship and oversight of overall machine center upkeep and reliability.
As required, provide leadership as backup to supervisor.
Ability to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Skills and Abilities

Basic math skills.
General knowledge of computers and software is preferred.

Demonstrated Competencies

Strong mechanical aptitude.
Good observation skills with the ability to troubleshoot problems.
Effectively collect, analyze, and interpret data.
Self-directed and the ability to work independently as well as with others.
Willing and able to ask questions regarding unfamiliar tasks.
Communicate effectively with all levels of employees as necessary, both in written and verbal form.
Must have regular and punctual attendance.

Physical Requirements

This position requires sitting, standing, walking, climbing, twisting, reaching, bending, and lifting.
Must be able to lift, push, and pull up to 60lbs.
Must be willing and able to work flexible hours, including weekends.

Experience: Minimum of 1 year of plant production experience or equivalent is preferred.Education: High School diploma or equivalent, or verifiable ability to perform essential job functions.Department: Operations

About the Company

Empirical Foods

Meat processing, lean ground beef producer

Empirical Foods processes beef trimmings into lean ground beef using its own technology that warms trimmings, centrifuges fat, and treats the product to kill bacteria, producing 95% lean ground beef sold to food service and retail. The company also makes boxed beef and pork, portioned steaks and roasts, and fully cooked, seasoned items such as taco meat and Bolognese under brands like Noble Valley, Two Rivers Meat Co, and Dos Rios Taco Meat. It differentiates itself by applying an in-house, proprietary process to recover lean meat from trimmings rather than relying on external suppliers, serving major packers, ground beef producers, fast-food chains, and grocers. Its goal is to increase cattle value by turning by-products into high-quality protein at scale, supported by a large new Garden City, Kansas plant expanding ground beef capacity.

Company size: 201-500
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Dakota Dunes, SD
Founded: Not listed

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