Quality Operations Technician
Land O'Lakes Venture37
Hourly Wage: $31.96 per hour ($2.00 hour night shift differential)
Hiring Bonus: $300 bonus after completing 90 day probationary period
$700 bonus after completing 6 months of employment. Total of $1,000 bonus
Hours: 5:00PM-5:00AM; CREW 3; 2-2-3 Schedule (every other weekend off)
In this role, you’ll be a key member of our Land O’Lakes, Inc. manufacturing team, ensuring the quality of our safe wholesome finished products. You’ll gain skills and experience in working with operations to ensure product integrity, from a microbiological and analytical standpoint, is protected and that our products conform to all standards within the LOL Quality Management Systems. Join our team to become part of a member-owned co-op that is Rooted In Tomorrow.
This position supports plant operations and contributes to both Quality and Sanitation functional responsibilities. The technician is expected to thrive in a team environment, demonstrate self-motivation, and escalate concerns appropriately. The role requires executing against multiple demands, balancing priorities, and processing workload efficiently while remaining flexible to support others.
We are seeking a team player with strong time management skills, the confidence to speak up and advocate for both Quality and Sanitation standards, and the integrity to hold peers accountable. The technician must follow all GMPs, conduct audits, and maintain a sharp attention to detail. The ability to problem-solve and actively participate in root cause investigations is essential.
This role is part of our Dairy Food business who creates dairy products that stand for real, simple goodness. We believe there’s power in every drop of milk our farmers produce, and by improving production and finding innovative uses for that milk, we add a little good to people’s lives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct Sanitary Micro sampling according to SOP- Follow schedule and collect samples from various locations throughout the plant.
- Assist in obtaining samples upon request to support investigations or audits.
- Perform routine GMP inspections across the facility and communicate findings to cross-functional team (includes entire facility).
- Inspect equipment cleanliness and verify readiness for production for pre-operational checks, and invasive red tag work (entire facility).
- Verify CIP (clean in place) functions and practices. Perform post CIP inspections and micro swabbing to ensure sanitation effectiveness.
- Follow up with action registers call outs, ensuring timely resolution and documentation.
- Provide routine support to Operations and Maintenance teams, promoting alignment of quality and sanitation standards.
- Support Trial runs and product changes, including set up, documentation, and coordination with cross- functional teams.
- Adhere to all LOL EQMS system requirements, maintaining compliance with internal and external standards.
- Support customer and 3rd party inspections, including documentation, walkthroughs, and corrective actions.
- Collaborate on team investigations, contributing to root cause analysis and corrective action planning.
- Monitor critical control points, Verify and sign-off on completion of quality and sanitation records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Train and work with employees performing sanitation and cleaning duties, reinforcing best practices and compliance.
- Support employee Quality and Sanitation training to plant personnel.
- Serve as a War on Water champion, promoting water conservation and responsible usage practices.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- 18 years old or older
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
- Self-reliant and able to accurately work under limited supervision
- Maintains a safety mindset
- Must be able to work in a collaborative team
- Ability to be flexible in work performed and schedule
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Basic computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Office (Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook).
- Aseptic Sampling Techniques, Sanitation Knowledge, Chemical knowledge
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of legal requirements and operations of plant food safety preventive control programs.
Preferred Education:
- An Associates Degree (or equivalent) or comparable experience in the Dairy manufacturing, sanitation, quality or operations roles 3 to 5 years
Physical Requirements for production positions regularly include:
- Ability to lift/carry 50 lb
- Confined space entry (silos, dryers, evaporators)
- Frequent movement including walking, standing, bending/stooping, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling, raising arms, lifting, climbing and other active movements
- Performing duties while wearing personal protective equipment
- Working across temperature zones that may include cold and/or hot environments for extended periods and may include work in environments where dust is present
- Shift schedules that include days, nights, and weekends, some holidays and periodic overtime
- Candidate will likely spend 75% of the shift on their feet performing test and inspections.
About Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.
Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).
Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.
Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.