Job Description – Skilled Production Laborer
Company: GBI USA Co.
Industry: Pet Treat Manufacturing
Employment Type: Full-Time, Hourly
Reports To: Production Manager/Plant Manager
Position Summary
GBI USA Co. is seeking a dependable and experienced Skilled Production Laborer to support our pet-treat manufacturing operations. This position performs hands-on production work involving raw-material preparation, cutting, loading and unloading oven racks, packaging, equipment operation, sanitation, and quality inspections.
The ideal candidate is safety-conscious, physically capable, detail-oriented, and able to follow written production instructions, food-safety procedures, and supervisor directions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Receive, inspect, weigh, and prepare raw materials for production.
- Cut, trim, portion, and arrange animal-based materials according to product specifications.
- Safely operate approved production tools, cutting equipment, scales, packaging equipment, and other machinery after receiving training.
- Load and unload production racks, ovens, totes, carts, and pallets.
- Follow production schedules, work orders, product specifications, and lot-number requirements.
- Accurately complete production, traceability, quality-control, and sanitation records.
- Inspect products for proper size, appearance, weight, dryness, quality, and possible contamination.
- Package, seal, label, case-pack, and palletize finished products.
- Verify that packaging, labels, lot codes, and best-by dates are correct.
- Follow allergen-control, cross-contamination prevention, and product-separation procedures.
- Perform assigned cleaning and sanitation of work areas, tools, equipment, racks, floors, drains, totes, and production rooms.
- Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP, SQF, and company food-safety requirements.
- Wear required personal protective equipment, including gloves, hair restraints, protective clothing, and slip-resistant footwear.
- Report injuries, equipment problems, foreign-material concerns, product defects, and food-safety issues immediately.
- Assist with inventory counts, material movement, rework, and other production assignments as directed.
- Work cooperatively with production, quality assurance, sanitation, warehouse, and management personnel.
- Perform other job-related duties assigned by management.
Required Qualifications
- Previous experience in manufacturing, food processing, meat processing, packaging, warehouse operations, construction, or another skilled-labor environment is preferred.
- Ability to safely use hand tools and production equipment.
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
- Basic reading, writing, counting, weighing, and measurement skills.
- Ability to complete production records accurately and legibly.
- Strong attention to safety, quality, cleanliness, and product specifications.
- Dependable attendance and ability to report to work on time.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a production team.
- Willingness to work with raw and dehydrated animal products.
- Ability to communicate workplace hazards, quality concerns, and equipment problems promptly.
Physical Requirements
This position regularly requires the employee to:
- Stand and walk for extended periods.
- Bend, reach, twist, push, pull, and perform repetitive hand movements.
- Lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds, with assistance or lifting equipment used when appropriate.
- Push and pull loaded racks, carts, totes, and palletized materials.
- Work in areas that may be hot, cold, wet, noisy, or exposed to strong odors.
- Safely work around ovens, cutting tools, production machinery, and cleaning chemicals.
- Wear required personal protective equipment throughout the shift.
Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
Work Schedule
The regular work schedule may change based on production requirements.
- Summer schedule: Approximately 5:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
- Winter schedule: Approximately 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Overtime, early starts, extended shifts, or weekend work may occasionally be required.
Food-Safety Responsibilities
Every GBI USA employee is responsible for protecting product safety and quality. The Skilled Production Laborer must:
- Follow GMP, HACCP, SQF, sanitation, and traceability procedures.
- Maintain clean hands, clothing, tools, and work areas.
- Prevent cross-contamination and protect exposed products and packaging.
- Immediately report contamination, pests, damaged packaging, incorrect labels, or unsafe conditions.
- Stop work and notify a supervisor when a product-safety concern is identified.
- Participate in required food-safety, workplace-safety, and job-specific training.
Employment Expectations
Employees must maintain professional conduct, follow company policies, work safely, cooperate with supervisors and coworkers, and meet production and quality expectations. Regular and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position.
GBI USA Co. is an equal-opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without unlawful discrimination based on any status protected by applicable law.
Employee Acknowledgment
I acknowledge that I have received and reviewed this job description. I understand the primary responsibilities and requirements of the Skilled Production Laborer position. I understand that duties and schedules may be modified based on operational needs.
Pay: $17.50 - $18.50 per hour
Work Location: In person
