Career Opportunities: Packaging Operator (693)

Port Wentworth, GA, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Hourly

Range $26.42 - $30.81

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

supportive work environment

opportunities for growth

Safety-focused culture

overtime pay

Employee Development Programs

Job Description

United States Sugar Corporation, widely known as U.S. Sugar, is a leading agricultural company dedicated to producing high-quality sugar products through innovative and sustainable practices. Established with a rich history and a vision for the future, U.S. Sugar operates as a dynamic organization committed to excellence in the agricultural industry. The company values its workforce as its most valuable asset and fosters an environment that promotes employee growth, engagement, safety, and well-being. U.S. Sugar emphasizes a collaborative work culture where employees are supported with competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities to develop professionally within a safety-first work environment. The company stands at the forefront of technological advancements within its sector, ensuring efficiency and quality in all its operations through cutting-edge equipment and continuous improvement initiatives. Employees join a robust team that prioritizes not only business success but also the success and satisfaction of its workforce, making U.S. Sugar a distinguished employer in the market.

This full-time Packaging Machine Operator position at U.S. Sugar offers an hourly rate ranging from $26.42 to $30.81, reflecting the company’s commitment to fair and competitive compensation. The role plays an integral part in maintaining the optimal function of multiple packaging machines, including those responsible for blending, screening, filling, marking, labeling, banding, tying, packing, stacking, or wrapping containers. The Packaging Machine Operator ensures the smooth operation of different packaging lines, focusing on safety, quality, and productivity to meet the company’s high standards. This role requires an individual capable of performing mechanical operations, troubleshooting machinery issues, maintaining housekeeping standards, and following strict safety and quality protocols. The operator is responsible for running machines, carrying out minor maintenance, documenting quality checks, and participating in continuous performance improvements. This position demands physical stamina, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, often noisy industrial environment. U.S. Sugar offers a supportive and structured work environment where the operator is empowered to make decisions related to safety and quality, ensuring production efficiency while adhering to operational policies and safety regulations. The company also values teamwork, requiring the Packaging Machine Operator to collaborate actively with supervisors and other team members to meet production goals and contribute to the overall success of the organization. Working hours range from 36 to 60 hours per week, and overtime availability is expected as part of the job duties. This role does not include supervisory responsibilities but requires accountability and sound judgment in routine tasks and problem-solving. The position is based on-site, requiring physical presence and engagement with the operational equipment and processes. Overall, this opportunity is ideal for individuals who are motivated by technical challenges, committed to quality, and keen to be part of a company with a strong ethical foundation and a culture of inclusiveness and respect.

Job Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Minimum one year of automated packaging experience
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions
Ability to write simple correspondence
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide
Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands, reach, and talk or hear
Occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds regularly
Knowledge of safety procedures including lockout-tagout
Willingness to work overtime as needed
Work on-site in person
Must comply with company safety and quality protocols
No supervisory responsibilities required

Job Qualifications

High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
Minimum one year of automated packaging experience
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos
Ability to write simple correspondence
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
Ability to perform physical tasks of the job including standing, walking, lifting up to 50 pounds regularly, and other specified physical activities
Preferred qualifications include two years of college or technical school
Preferred qualifications include two or more years of automated packaging experience
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs
Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other associates of the organization

Job Duties

Know and observe plant safety work procedures and rules, environmental practices and GMP guidelines
Maintain packaging line at acceptable levels of safety and housekeeping
Shutdown packaging lines if there is an unacceptable safety risk
Report all safety issues and recommendations to supervision
Understand and follow proper procedures for all Lockout - Tag out - Try procedures for system including packaging machine, conveyor system, sugar feed system, and all auxiliary equipment
Visually inspect bags being produced on machine for proper fold, sealing, weights, bag shape and overall product appearance
Complete all necessary quality paperwork including hourly checks and deviation documentation
Shutdown packaging lines if there is an unacceptable quality risk
Maintain proper housekeeping at packaging line
Run filling machine
to include start-ups, shutdowns, emergency shutdown, jogging machine, major and minor adjustments, scale adjustments, adjusting pressures, sugar flow adjustments, fold adjustments, clearing jams
Run auxiliary equipment to include but not limited to glue machines, conveyors, metal detectors, printing equipment, x-ray machines, elevators, mill equipment, dense phase receivers, magnets, case erectors, case sealers, and robots
Troubleshoot and diagnose major issues with the packaging machine and auxiliary equipment
Able to assist in the teardown and rebuild packaging and auxiliary equipment
Perform deep cleaning of packaging machines on an as needed basis
Perform minor maintenance such as lubrication and setting adjustments
Replenish packaging supplies as necessary for continuous operation
Recognize and correct inefficiencies in the machine
Participate in the team effort to improve performance
Fill hoppers, change bags, fill glue containers, replaces ink bottles or ribbons and keep all necessary feeders loaded
Must understand and be physically capable of following all of the documented cleaning procedures for the machine where assigned
Participate in the team effort to improve performance
Ability to work overtime when needed
Perform any job as determined by line operator or supervisor