Relief Operator

More than 100 years ago, a young Frank C. Mars started making candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen. From that simple beginning, his son Forrest built Mars into the mature company it is today, first by creating the MILKY WAY® bar with his father and later by expanding the business overseas and diversifying into new categories like pet care and food. Today, the Mars family of Associates is 80,000 strong in 78 countries around the world.

To operate and monitor all equipment as needed, meeting corporate quality and safety standards in order to maximize the quality, quantity and cost effective manufacture of petfood. Relief Operator supports all Senior Operator, Operator, Material Handler, Quality/Mfg Support Techs, Servicers, and may backfill for Lead positions as business needs require. Cross-Training associates and completing training information in an accurate and timely manner is also required.

• To maintain safety standards by using LOTO and confined space entry procedures when working in all areas of the factory.
• To operate all equipment as needed for the effective production of product.
• Communicate to different areas to prevent down time and quality issues
• Make product changeovers on various pieces of equipment
• Be able to assist in troubleshooting equipment to assure proper operation
• This position and all site associates are responsible for quality and food safety.
• This position monitors quality and food safety controls points and makes corrective actions to the process if needed.
• Know and understand the site’s CCP’s and report any findings of deficiencies to site’s quality manager or designee.
• Cross-Train
• Fill in for all functional operations roles as required
• May backfill for Lead role
• Responsible for documentation completion and quality in roles filled

Mission Critical Competencies

• Must be able to learn how to operate the various pieces of equipment
• Must be able to perform all of the necessary quality checks on any given piece of equipment
• Must know the product “Hold” criteria of all applicable areas
• Must understand the mechanics of how all of the equipment operates in the area in order to troubleshoot various pieces of equipment
• Must be able to identify measures and indicators of equipment performance and actions needed to improve or correct performance relative to production goals.
• Must have excellent communication skills.
• Must be able to train associates to all Quality, Safety, and Manufacturing specifications

Key Supporting Competencies

• Peer Relationships
• Approachability
• Listening
• Planning

Key Functional Skills/Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of how each piece of equipment in the area operates
• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes and quality control
• An excellent understanding of how each piece of equipment effects the equipment located before and after the production process
• The ability to quickly change role functions as they move from one piece of equipment to another during the work day/week
• The ability to operate, troubleshoot various pieces of equipment
• The ability to evaluate and complete quality checks and document results using data base collection system
• Knowledge of Statistical Process Control
• Completion of Better Processing School is required (although not a pre-requesite for the role) – company will provide training as needed
• Food Manufacturing experience and knowledge of food safety
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 2+ years of manufacturing experience.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to quickly respond.
• High speed or robotic packaging experience
• Mechanical troubleshooting ability
• Career Readiness Certificate (CRC)
• Computer literate with an ability to enter, record, maintain and retrieve information in a computer based data collection system
• Forklift experience
• Must be able to physically perform all job requirements of all functional positions listed above

Preferred Qualifications

• Food manufacturing experience and knowledge of food safety.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Statistical Process Control
• Forklift certified