Junior Operator M/W

Do you want to contribute to building a more natural and sustainable food system? Do you want to work for a company that cares about its employees and its social and environmental impact?
Our Decatur based company is the affiliate of a French parent company who is a world leader in alternative animal proteins. We breed and process Black Soldier Flies, insects that are used as a new, environmentally friendly ingredient in pet food 🐟 🐤 and as an organic fertilizer 🌱. The success of our project depends on having a team that shares our values and goals.
We are seeking a skilled and experienced Junior Operator to join our team. The Junior Operator will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of production processes, maintaining equipment, and adhering to safety and quality standards.We are looking for candidates who would be available to start as early as September 23rd 2024 at our Decatur facility in Illinois. The regular shift would be Monday to Friday 7AM-3:30PM.
If you feel that you share our values and have the skills and experience described here, we’d love to hear from you!
Primary Responsibilities
You will rotate across workshops and participate in the following activities:
● Operate a manual Mixing & Injection process which includes:○ Material Reception: operate forklift to load and unload IBCs and Combo Boxes○ Formulation: Manual dosing of different ingredients for batch preparation:○ Mixing: Manual mixing of the ingredients○ Injection: Through a semi-manual process pump the mixed product into trays
● Operate Larva Process○ Positioning of the stacks and piles in respective storage rooms○ Make rounds of checks to monitor condition and health during the larva growth○ Sampling and counting of end of pre-growth Juveniles
● Operate the Sieving Process (Manually or Automatic)○ Manual process: Shoveling of the product onto sieving mesh and sampling lots○ Automatic process: Safely operate (e.g.: LOTO) machine via a control panel○ Troubleshoot failures, reset alarms and operate the equipment
● Operate Egg Process○ Make rounds of checking in on the cages for Flies conditioning/health monitoring○ Perform cages cleaning at the end of the cycle (remove dead flies)○ Handle the ovipos (attractant for the flies to lay eggs) at cages○ Daily collection of Egg Collectors and manual scratching off the eggs○ Weigh the hatched eggs
● Operate Microwave Process○ Prepare the raw material (Fresh Larvas) to be processed○ Transfer them from Low Care to High Care area (cleaning room)○ Use the clothing and tools dedicated to a cleaning room standards○ Prepare the batches of fresh larvae to be processed (microwave)○ Operate the Microwave equipment according to the instructions and SOPs○ Remove the Popped Larvae from the Microwave and store it in trays for cooling○ Prepare the Popped Larvae batches to be packed○ Fill and Pack the Popped Larvae
Across these workshops, you will participate in the following team activities:● Cleaning of the areas and equipments● Performance Analysis & Tracking (computer and/ or tablets)○ Take samples, test, input results and catalog samples for backup○ Check feedstock or product specifications (eg: Dry Mater, pH, Temperature)○ Visual inspection and catalog results
Qualifications
To be an effective Junior Operator, you need a combination of technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and personal qualities:
Technical Experience and Problem-Solving Skills: strong manual dexterity and experience in operations. Ability to troubleshoot and implement effective solutions promptly and accurately. Ability to read and interpret process manuals and work orders. Proactively look for potential maintenance issues or signs of wear and tear to prevent major breakdowns and repairs.Efficiently prioritize and manage tasks to meet maintenance schedules and minimize downtime.
Personal Qualities
● Curiosity and Attention to detail: You are interested in learning new skills and understanding how your activities support the overall process. You’re meticulous in performing tasks and maintain accurate records of results.
● Be Flexible, a Team Player and a Good Communicator: You can handle a variety of operational tasks and challenges, and quickly adjust to changing priorities. You’re a self-starter with a “go getter attitude” who is able to communicate clearly and collaborateeffectively with other team members to achieve common goals and maintain a harmonious work environment. You take the initiative to identify potential maintenance improvements or areas of concern and propose solutions to enhance efficiency and reduce maintenance issues. If working in a customer-facing environment, you know how to be courteous and helpful.
● Have a Growth Mindset: you constantly learn and thrive to use the latest techniques, technologies, and industry best practices. You a