Job Overview

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Employment Type

Full-time
Part-time
Hourly
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Compensation

Hourly
Exact $20.30
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Work Schedule

Standard Hours
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Benefits

Health Insurance
Retirement benefits
Education benefit
Paid Time Off
overtime pay
Career growth opportunities
Professional Development

Job Description

Smithfield Foods is a prominent American food company recognized for its leadership in producing packaged meats and fresh pork products. The company has built its reputation by delivering high-quality food products while emphasizing sustainability and ethical practices throughout its operations. Smithfield Foods is deeply committed to its core values of gratitude, communication, respect, and accountability, fostering a workplace culture centered on collaboration, innovation, and mutual respect. The company serves families across America by producing food responsibly and with care for people, animals, communities, and the planet. With opportunities available across various locations and functions, Smithfield offers rewarding career paths where employees can grow and make meaningful contributions. The company supports professional development through education benefits available to both full-time and part-time team members who meet eligibility requirements.

The Skilled Knife position at Smithfield Foods plays a crucial role in ensuring the production of safe and high-quality meat products for consumers. In this hands-on role, team members work with a variety of hand tools and machinery, including straight knives, skinning tools, shaving tools, hand saws, powered whizard knives, and other blades designed for meat processing. This position requires excellent hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic to maintain safety and quality standards on the production line. The role demands physical stamina as team members stand on concrete or platforms for shifts lasting up to 12 hours and perform repetitive tasks such as grasping, pinching, flexing, and extending their arms. Operators are expected to follow oral and written instructions carefully and maintain a safe and efficient work environment. Working conditions vary from cold areas (around 20–40 degrees Fahrenheit) to warm areas exceeding 100 degrees, sometimes in wet and humid surroundings. Employees wear personal protective equipment including hard hats, hearing/eye/body protection, and steel-toed safety shoes to ensure safety. The work environment may involve exposure to animal blood, carcass parts, sanitation chemicals, strong odors, and noise.

Smithfield offers competitive starting wages of approximately $20.30 per hour. The company provides comprehensive health insurance, retirement benefits, and education assistance, supporting employees’ well-being and growth. While overtime may be required depending on production demands, the company is committed to a positive team atmosphere and continuous learning. Successful candidates demonstrate a willingness to learn, teamwork, reliability, and a strong sense of dedication to their craft. This role is not only about performing essential meat processing duties but also about contributing to a shared mission of responsibly delivering quality food to families nationwide. Smithfield Foods is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, offering reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities to support an inclusive hiring process. This is an opportunity to join a well-established company known for ethical standards, strong values, and providing employees with long-term career opportunities in the food production industry.

Job Requirements

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions
  • Capacity for continuous and repetitive physical movement including grasping, pinching hands, and flexing and extending arms
  • Ability to stand on concrete or platforms for up to 12 hours per shift
  • Willingness to work around animal blood and carcass parts
  • Comfort working with knives
  • Ability to work in cold (20-40 degrees) and warm (over 100 degrees) environments
  • Capacity to work in wet and humid environments
  • Ability to wear personal protective equipment including hard hat, hearing, eye, body protection, and steel-toed safety shoes
  • Tolerance for noisy environments
  • Experience or ability to work with sanitation and cleaning chemicals
  • Ability to work around strong odors
  • Capability to climb and move on ladders, steps, stairways, walkways and platforms
  • Ability to bend, stoop and twist repeatedly over long shifts
  • Willingness to walk long distances
  • May require certification to operate some equipment
  • Ability to lift and carry weights up to 60 pounds, sometimes with mechanical assistance

Job Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Previous experience in meat processing or a similar role is beneficial
  • Ability to use various knives and hand tools safely
  • Good hand-eye coordination and physical stamina
  • Ability to follow detailed instructions and work as part of a team
  • Willingness to work in varying temperature environments
  • Commitment to workplace safety and quality standards

Job Duties

  • Work with hand tools, knives, machinery and other equipment to process meat products for consumers
  • Use straight knives, skinning tools, shaving tools, hand saws, powered whizard knives and various knives
  • Perform physically demanding tasks requiring good hand-eye coordination and attention to detail
  • Work scheduled shifts and possibly overtime depending on production demands
  • Maintain a safe and efficient production line environment
  • Follow oral and written instructions accurately
  • Contribute to positive teamwork and uphold safety standards

Job Criteria

Experience

Entry Level (1-2 years)


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