Smokehouse Operator

At Jack Link's Protein Snacks, we're looking for a skilled Smokehouse Operator to join our team. As a Smokehouse Operator, you'll play a critical role in ensuring the highest quality products are produced in a safe and efficient manner.

• Operate and monitor all smokehouse processes to ensure product quality and safety.
• Load and unload product into and out of ovens, maintaining a clean and organized work area.
• Work to increase efficiencies and product quality, identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions.
• Verify work and storage areas are maintained, safe, clean, and organized, adhering to good manufacturing practices and HACCP training.
• Monitor each smokehouse and product cook for accurate cooking process, adjusting as needed to ensure optimal results.
• Understand product thickness to adjust smokehouse process to properly adjust cooking procedures, ensuring consistent quality.
• Understand and rotate product within the smokehouse when needed, monitoring smokehouse process to ensure optimal results.
• Follow company SOP's, SSOP's, and good manufacturing practices to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
• Set oven controllers to correct program indicated in product specifications, monitoring oven cycles and product through testing samples.
• Perform various tests at required intervals, such as PH tests on in-process and finished product, fat and moisture levels, etc.
• Complete documentation at required intervals according to company practice, reporting detected inconsistencies to supervisors, quality assurance personnel, or managers.
• Spray applications to products per specifications, maintaining a safe and clean work environment.

• High school diploma or GED or one to three months related experience/training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One to two years of relevant experience preferred, with experience working with Alkar and/or EnviroPak Smokehouse Ovens.
• Knowledge of SAP preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills required, with the ability to demonstrate a positive, professional image of themselves and the company.
• Strong problem-solving abilities required, with the ability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve various issues and obstacles.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, with good organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload effectively.
• Ability to calculate using fractions, decimals, and percentages, copy figures, count and record without transposing numbers.
• Ability to follow written or verbal instructions using several variables, with the ability to speak, read, and write in the English language enough to effectively perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people with varying levels of education and expertise background.
• Ability to work odd shifts, work nights, weekends, rotating shifts, and short notice overtime based upon plant needs.
• Ability to perform repetitive functions, with proficiency in Internet navigation, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant/office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet/slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Jack Link's provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state, or local law.

Jack Link's is a participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For information about the E-Verify program, please visit: https://www.e-verify.gov/