Operator I (Lead)

• Production PetDine
• Harvard, IL PetDine is seeking an experienced Operator I (Lead) to join our production team.

This position plays a key role in overseeing daily extrusion operations while helping the team safely and efficiently produce high-quality pet food products. The Operator I provides hands-on leadership and guidance to Operators, Mixers, and Production Associates while ensuring production schedules, quality standards, safety requirements, and food-safety procedures are followed. Key Responsibilities Lead and coordinate daily extrusion line activities to meet production goals. Set up, operate, monitor, and document extruder functions. Verify ingredients and materials are correct and available for production. Support and guide Mixers to ensure recipes and liquid inclusions are followed accurately. Monitor finished product quality and take corrective action when necessary. Complete production records, ingredient lot documentation, recipe sheets, and process information. Ensure blending and batching meet work-order specifications. Train and support team members on equipment operation, production procedures, and safe work practices. Follow and reinforce GMP, SQF, HACCP, sanitation, and food-safety requirements. Communicate production needs or concerns with Supervisors, Maintenance, and Quality teams. OperatorIProduction Qualifications Minimum 2 years of experience in extrusion and/or food manufacturing operations . Previous leadership or Lead Operator experience preferred. Strong leadership and communication skills. Mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting/problem-solving skills. Basic computer and math skills. Forklift certification required upon hire. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently. Must be reliable and punctual. High school diploma preferred. Must be able to read, write, and speak English fluently . OperatorIProduction Work Environment & Physical Requirements This is a hands-on manufacturing position in a production environment. Employees may experience hot or cold temperatures, dust, odors, allergens, and noise levels requiring hearing protection. Required PPE may include uniforms, hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed footwear, gloves, and other job-specific equipment. The position also requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and other physical activity. Some duties may involve equipment at different heights, ladders, scaffolding, or confined spaces. OperatorIProduction Join the PetDine team and help lead safe, efficient, and high-quality production operations! If you're ready to take the next step in your manufacturing career and have experience in food production, extrusion, or operating manufacturing equipment, we encourage you to apply. Excited about this role but don't meet every requirement listed? Studies show that often applicants will self-select out if they don't check every box. We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings. Employee Perks and Benefits Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package to support your well-being, including:

• Physical wellness
• medical/Rx, dental, vision and life insurance
• Financial wellness
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Mental and social wellness
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid vacation time, plus 12 paid holidays
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional development Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM PetDine's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our industry, as we strive to ensure our workforce represents the world that we help to feed: people of color, women, gender non-conforming, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities. Join our team and be a part of our mission to provide nutritious and delicious food for pets around the world! and contribute to the success of our pet food plant.

Pay:

$22.00

• $24.

00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Referral program Vision insurance People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply Application Question(s): Have you ever led a team on a production line? How many people did you oversee? Have you worked with HACCP, GMP, or Food Safety protocols before? Please describe your previous experience working in extrusion, food manufacturing, or a similar production environment. What equipment or production processes have you worked with? Have you previously worked for PetDine? If yes, please provide your previous position, department, supervisor (if known), and approximate dates of employment. Were you referred to this opportunity by a current PetDine employee? If yes, please provide the employee's full name and department, if known. What experience do you have with production documentation, quality checks, food safety, GMPs, SQF, or other manufacturing safety and quality procedures? Describe a time when you experienced an equipment or production issue. How did you identify the problem, and what steps did you take to resolve or escalate it? Tell us about any experience you have leading, training, or supporting other employees in a manufacturing or production environment. What were your responsibilities?

Experience:

Leadership:

1 year (Required)

Forklift:

1 year (Required) Food production: 2 years (Preferred) Shift availability: Overnight Shift (Preferred) Day Shift (Preferred) Night Shift (Preferred) Ability to

Commute:

Harvard, IL 60033 (Required)

Work Location:

In person