At Jack Link’s, we feed the journey. We take pride in rolling up our sleeves and getting things done together. Fueled by creativity, passion, and a commitment to doing things the right way, we tackle the hard stuff first and focus on real progress, bold moves, and no excuses. We create opportunities, celebrate wins, own our misses, and push forward as a team, knowing our strength comes from supporting one another and having fun along the way. We cultivate a workplace where passion meets purpose and our Team Members are inspired, recognized, and rewarded for their contributions. 

If you’re ready to make a difference and build something meaningful, we want you! 

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Headquartered in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s is strategically positioned with production, distribution, and support centers in key locations throughout North America, Brazil, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. This global network allows Jack Link's to deliver a wide variety of high-quality, great tasting protein snacks to consumers around the world. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Wild River®, Golden Island®, Country Fresh Meats®, BiFi®, Peperami® , Mariani and Local Legends Meat Snacks.

The primary purpose of the Smokehouse Operator is to operate and monitor all smokehouse processes. The role of the Smokehouse Operator is to ensure the product is cooked in a safe and efficient manner to the highest possible quality.

Hours:  Friday, Saturday and Sunday every other Thursday 6am to 6pm

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The duties and responsibilities of this position shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following:
• Load and unload product into and out of ovens.
• Work to increase efficiencies and product quality.
• Verify work and storage areas are maintained, safe, clean and organized.
• Monitor each smokehouse and product cook for accurate cooking process.
• Understand product thickness to adjust smokehouse process to properly adjust cooking procedures.
• Understand and rotate product within the smokehouse when needed when monitoring smokehouse process.
• Follow good manufacturing practices and HACCP training, along with company SOP’s, and SSOP’s.
• Set oven controllers to correct program indicated in product specifications.
• Monitor oven cycles and product through testing samples.
• Perform various tests at required intervals such as PH tests on in-process and finished product, fat and moisture levels, etc.
• Complete documentation at required intervals according to company practice.
• Spray applications to products per specifications. Report detected inconsistencies to supervisors, quality assurance personnel, or managers.
• Sanitize designated drains, floors, and equipment at required intervals.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as necessary.

Safety:

• Perform all duties within OSHA and company safety standards; LOTO, wear PPE and maintain safety equipment.
• Maintain a safe, clean and organized work area.
• Immediately report all accidents and deficiencies to the lead/foreman/supervisor.
• Ensure safety devices are installed and working properly.
• Monitor work environment for general food safety hazards such as condensation monitoring, etc.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required Education/Experience: High school diploma or GED or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred:

• A minimum of one year of relevant experience
• Experience working with Alkar and/or EnviroPak Smokehouse Ovens
• Knowledge of SAP

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE and ABILITIES:

• Strong written and oral communication skills required
• Must demonstrate a positive, professional image of themselves and the company
• Strong problem solving abilities required
• Must be able to anticipate, recognize, and resolve various issues and obstacles
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Must be able to work in an ever changing, team environment
• Good organizational skills; demonstrated ability to prioritize work load effectively.
• Ability to calculate using fractions, decimals, and percentages, copy figures, count and record without transposing numbers.
• Ability to follow written or verbal instructions using several variables.
• Must be able to speak, read and write in the English language enough to effectively perform the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to work with diverse group of people with varying levels of education and expertise background.
• Must be able to work odd shifts, work nights, weekends, rotating shifts and short notice overtime based upon plant needs.
• Must be able to perform repetitive functions.
• Proficient in Internet navigation, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Proven thorough understanding of fermentation processes and Aw procedures.

The salary range for this role is $20.25 -25.57 per hour. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Jack Link's is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
Jack Link's provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that Jack Link’s has violated our responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).