HIL - Mix Specialist at Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. – Wichita, Kansas
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About This Position
Position Overview
The Mix Specialist moves around the production floor, performing various production operation duties and cleanup duties to keep production going. Days worked and hours assigned may temporarily change due to business requirements.
Key Responsibilities
The Mix Specialist shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:
- Operate pasteurizers, weigh ingredients, batch produces, perform necessary quality checks and lab tests, complete necessary paperwork, document charts, restock ingredients when necessary, clean associated tanks, lines, and areas.
- Ensuring optimum quality products through completing proper cleanup and sanitation tasks by following regulatory standards, ensuring the production/process areas are both clean and sterile.
- Prepares, wash and put back together Pasteurized and Raw Silos
- Perform the basic housekeeping to include clean floors, walls, ceiling, air vents, lights, etc., of the plant, equipment, and exterior of all equipment.
- Accomplish pre-operations check on all product contact surfaces including pumps, valves, agitators, alcoves and clamps before start up.
- Utilizing continuous improvement mindset, assist in identifying opportunities to improve processes.
- Follow Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Maintain a clean, sanitary and safe work area.
- Follow all required work safe practices. This would include wearing of all required PPE in designated areas, confined space safety, safe chemical handling, fall restraints, etc.
- Responsible for food safety, pre-requisite programs and food quality related to designated area. Report any food safety and food quality related issues to management immediately.
- Help give breaks to Filler Operators
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Maintain reliable attendance and consistent work hours.
- Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts.
- Minimum age: 18
- Must be able to pass a drug screen and physical.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
- 6 months experience required.
- Able to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
- Must be able to stand, walk, push or pull a majority of the day. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds frequently and manually stack and move cases up to 8 cases high
- Must be willing to work flexible hours including overtime, weekends and holidays.
- Be able to effectively work in a team environment
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work in a fast paced environment
- Must be able to pass all pre-employment screens (including drug, background and criminal check.
Required Soft Skills:
- Coachable and willing to learn.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Competency
- Must be able to read and write English and perform basic math calculations.
- Effective time management skills to achieve results through prioritizing demands.
- Demonstrates critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills.
- Strong attention-to-detail and organizational skills.
- Must demonstrate proficiency in essential tasks and a willingness to learn.
Working Conditions
- Must be able to stand/walk on your feet constantly during your shift.
- Must be able to repetitively lift up to 50 to 75 lbs.
- Ability to constantly pull up to 270 lbs. with a pull rod while walking backward.
- Must be able to work outside and be exposed to the outside weather/temperature conditions.
- Maintain constant mental focus and constantly be aware of your surroundings.
- Must be able to work in both very hot (more than 100 degrees) and very cold (less than 20 degrees below zero) and in a very wet and humid environment for extended periods of time. Exposed to noise/vibration, and chemicals.
- Required to Stand, walk, climb, bend, twist, push and pull, and reach above and below the shoulder.
About Hiland Dairy – “Farmer Owned. Locally Produced. Since 1938.”
Hiland Dairy was founded in 1938 in Springfield, Missouri, by two men and fifty cows. From its modest beginnings, it grew steadily into a major farmer-owned dairy company serving much of the Midwest and South. By the mid-1940s, Hiland had added its first production plant and distribution center, expanding beyond milk into products like ice cream and butter. In 1955, the company joined the Quality Chekd organization, reinforcing its dedication to top processing standards.
Through the late 20th century, Hiland expanded by acquiring regional dairies across Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, increasing its reach and product diversity. Today, its offerings include milk, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, dips, cheese, juice, and iced tea.
Still farmer-owned, Hiland emphasizes freshness by sourcing milk from nearby farms. The company also invests in sustainability initiatives and community engagement, remaining rooted in its founding values of quality, integrity, and local commitment.
Our Mission:
Hiland will continually strive to provide high quality products that our customers desire at a competitive price. This goal will be accomplished by the following:
• Being better than we have to be — setting high standards in performance and quality control and meeting or exceeding those marks.
• Doing what is right — treating our greatest asset, our people, with dignity and respect. Attracting and retaining high quality people by providing competitive compensation and continually training and upgrading the skills of our people.
• Provide a reasonable return to our owners — by keeping pace with the market in all areas of our business.
EEO Statement
Hiland Dairy Foods, LLC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.