Maintenance Technician - Wed/Thur & e/o Fri-Sun, 6 pm - 6 am)
Location – This is an onsite role that works at the Chaseburg Creamery in Chaseburg, WI. The shift hours are 6pm-6am every Wednesday and Thursday and every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Employee Type – Hourly
Bonus Eligibility – This position is eligible for a 3% annual bonus incentive based on cooperative and individual performance.
Safety Sensitive – Yes
If a company is going to make a difference in today’s world, it’s going to have to think differently. At Organic Valley, our philosophy and decisions are based on the health and welfare of people, animals and the earth. We’re a mission-driven cooperative, owned by family farmers, and we’ve been leaders in organic agriculture from the very beginning. Once pioneers of organic agriculture, we’re now an established leader. Organic is all we do. We are driven by our mission to promote regional farm diversity and economic stability by the means of organic agricultural methods and the sale of certified organic products.
Summary of Role
The Maintenance Technician is a versatile and flexible role designed to ensure seamless operations of the Chaseburg Creamery. Provide multi-craft (mechanical/electrical/controls) maintenance for a highly automated dairy facility. Ensure safe, compliant, and reliable operation of production, packaging, and utility systems—including FDA/State-regulated pasteurization equipment, Weights & Measures sealed systems, and robotics—while maintaining documentation to meet food safety and regulatory requirements. This is a safety sensitive role in a 24/7; 365 dairy processing operation. Occasional on-call is required for vacation and absence coverage.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Perform all tasks safely and in compliance with OSHA and Organic Valley safety policies by modeling safe behaviors, properly using required safety equipment (including fall protection), and actively promoting a strong safety culture.
- Adhere to FDA, USDA, WDATCP, GMPs, and Organic Valley food safety requirements, including following written procedures and maintaining required documentation related to maintenance activities.
- Perform maintenance and repairs in production areas in a sanitary manner, following established policies and collaborating with Quality Assurance and Production to prevent product contamination or loss.
- Protect product quality by promptly addressing equipment and facility issues, maintaining tool and material accountability, and clearly communicating repair completion and sanitation needs to production leadership.
- Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain automated butter processing, packaging, and robotic equipment, including PLC controlled systems, metal detection, case packing, and palletizing.
- Maintain core production and process equipment such as churns, centrifuges, pumps, conveyors, fillers, checkweighers, cartoners, and high pressure systems.
- Maintain HTST pasteurizers and CIP/COP systems in compliance with PMO and WI DATCP requirements, supporting sanitary, hygienic maintenance practices.
- Calibrate, verify, and document process instrumentation and inspection systems, including flow, pressure, temperature, level, CIP conductivity, and metal detection.
- Maintain Weights & Measures sealed scaling systems and use electrical and calibration test equipment to verify signals, preserve seals, and support required inspections and compliance.
- Operate, monitor, and maintain utility systems including ammonia refrigeration and glycol cooling, boilers and steam systems, RO water, compressed air, HVAC, and facility ventilation to support safe and reliable operations.
- Maintain electrical and control systems up to 480 VAC (including motors, panels, VFDs, lighting, and controls) in accordance with NFPA 70E and applicable safety standards.
- Operate, monitor, and maintain the wastewater pretreatment system—including DAF, lift stations, and equalization tanks—to meet Village of Chaseburg and WI DNR discharge and stormwater compliance requirements.
- Inspect, clean, repair, and document wastewater and environmental systems (pumps, skimmers, probes, control panels), including sampling, testing, trend tracking, alarms, and corrective actions.
- Execute preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance using Limble (CMMS), iOffice (building maintenance), and Halo (Quality Request System); accurately close work orders and update equipment history.
- Read, interpret, and maintain P&IDs, electrical schematics, OEM manuals, and as built documentation; support spare parts management and reliability initiatives (MTBF/MTTR, root cause analysis).
- Coordinate contractor and vendor work, manage parts and materials, support after hours/weekend repairs, and participate in the on call rotation to minimize downtime and ensure coverage.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform sampling, monitoring, and documentation for utilities, wastewater, boilers, cooling systems, pasteurizers, separators, CIP systems, and equipment condition to support compliance and reliable operation.
- Troubleshoot, repair, and wire electrical and control systems (120VAC–480VAC, 24VDC), including PLC components, VFDs, sensors, instrumentation, and control devices using appropriate test equipment.
- Maintain electromechanical and mechanical equipment (pumps, motors, conveyors, separators) using technical drawings, P&IDs, manuals, and programming guides.
- Support regulatory compliance by maintaining HTST and other sealed systems, performing calibrations, coordinating inspections, and representing Organic Valley professionally during audits.
- Execute maintenance, sanitation, and facility cleaning tasks in accordance with the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS), including interior, exterior, and incident cleanup.
- Accurately complete safety, food safety, quality, and maintenance records; maintain equipment histories; and protect confidential company information.
- Collaborate effectively with supervisors and team members, complete required training, utilize plant software systems, and respond professionally to internal stakeholders and operational needs.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- High School Diploma or GED required, with 3+ years of industrial maintenance experience (food, beverage, or sanitary processing preferred); relevant certifications or apprenticeships a plus.
- Advanced aptitude in electromechanical and mechanical maintenance, including troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining pumps, motors, conveyors, and industrial power equipment.
- Strong knowledge of industrial electrical systems (480 VAC 3 phase, low voltage AC/DC, instrumentation, pneumatics, hydraulics) with proficiency using diagnostic and test equipment.
- Advanced ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, OEM drawings, and technical manuals to diagnose and resolve equipment issues.
- Highly skilled in PLC troubleshooting, including using Rockwell software to connect, view, and edit ladder logic, support Ethernet based networks, and configure VFDs and PID controllers.
- Proven experience maintaining regulatory sealed systems, including HTST/pasteurizers and volumetric scaling, with the ability to lead timing, resealing, diagnostics, and flow meter calibration with WI Weights & Measures.
- Ability to develop, follow, and maintain work instructions (WI) and standard operating procedures (SOP) for maintenance activities.
- Experience working with regulatory inspectors (USDA, FDA, State of Wisconsin, IMS, BRC) and representing Organic Valley professionally during audits and inspections.
- Skilled in CMMS use and basic computer applications to manage work orders, preventive maintenance, spare parts inventory, and equipment history.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, strong commitment to safety, and ability to follow and communicate clear written and verbal instructions.
- Frequently lift/push/pull up to 55 lb (occasionally 80 lb with assistance)
- Ability to walk and stand throughout duration of a 12 hour shift.
- Ability to climb ladders, and work at heights or in confined spaces.
- Ability to frequently bend, twist/turn, and reach above shoulders.
- Work in cold/wet/hot/noisy environments with chemicals and pressurized systems; wear required PPE (hearing, eye, gloves, respirator as needed).
- Ability to respond to after hours calls and weather related facility needs.
- Preferred / Within 12 Months of Hire (Company-Supported)
-Ammonia refrigeration training (RETA CARO/CIRO coursework or equivalent).
-HAZMAT response training related to ammonia release and chemical spill response.
-Willing and able to submit to respirator fit testing for respirator use (includes maintaining facial hair as required for proper use/fit)
-Boiler operator and/or wastewater operator in training credentials.
-PLC/HMI fundamentals (Allen Bradley), basic robot teach pendant operations, and checkweigher/metal detector verification.
-Sanitary welding/fabrication (TIG) and stainless repair skills.
-Hold, or willing to pursue and obtain, First Aid/CPR/AED certification
Base hourly wage range: $26.34 - $31.93 per hour
The typical hourly wage for a new hire with little or no experience is $26.34. This position also receives a $2.00 per hour shift premium between the hours of 6pm and 12am, a $3.00 per hour shift premium between the hours of 12am and 6am and this position receives a $2.00 per hour shift premium on Saturdays and Sundays. This hourly wage range is exclusive of fringe benefits. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of discretionary bonuses. If you are hired at CROPP, your final base hourly wage compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience. Additionally, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that entry-level candidates to this role should expect to be at the lower end of the hourly wage range and hiring at the maximum of the hourly wage range is not typical.
Benefits
We believe when our people are strong, our mission is strong. Therefore, we offer a comprehensive and holistic Total Rewards package meant to strengthen employees’ and their family's total wellbeing. Here are some of the great benefits offered:
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Comprehensive Health Insurance - Choice of plans for you and your family, including some that can be paired with an HSA (which CROPP contributes to on your behalf)
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Supplemental insurances: we offer accidental insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
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Time Off – 136 hours in the 1st year of employment prorated by start date. Plus 9 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday to use at will.
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6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave – For all gendered partners in childbirth or adoption.
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Vision & Dental Insurance – Free annual eye exam, discounts on glasses/contacts, flexible dental network, adult ortho.
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401k – We match 100% up to the first 3% of an employee’s contribution, and then 50% for 3.1%-5.0% of employee contributions.
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Free services at five local Neighborhood Family Clinics.
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Tuition Reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per year to support continuing higher education.
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Life Insurance - $50,000 policy funded by CROPP for each employee. Supplemental voluntary coverage available for employees, spouses, and children.
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Short-Term & Long-Term Disability/AD&D Insurance - $50,000 of life insurance coverage of $50,000 of AD&D coverage funded by CROPP for each employee.
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Employee Assistance Program - Free and Confidential for employees, spouses, and dependents.
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Free biometric screenings (cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure) and health coaching.
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Financial advisors and seminars
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Annual $360 Lifestyle Spending Account
