Labeling Technician in Charlotte, North Carolina at Plat Du Jour Inc

About Plat Du Jour Inc. (PDJ)

Plat Du Jour Inc. (PDJ) is a precision meal platform producing high-quality, ready-to-eat meals and components at scale. PDJ operates at the intersection of culinary excellence and operational discipline, combining chef-driven food with the consistency, structure, and efficiency of a food manufacturing environment. Every meal, case, and pallet that leaves our facility must be correctly identified, dated, and traceable — and this role is the person who makes sure it is.

Position Overview

The Labeling Technician owns every label that leaves the Plat Du Jour Inc. facility — individual meal labels, case labels, and pallet labels for both PDJ-branded and co-manufacturing product. This person prints, verifies, and applies labels so that every product carries the correct product name, ingredients, allergen statement, nutrition facts, lot code, and dates.

Label accuracy is a food safety requirement, not just a packaging task. A missing allergen or an incorrect date can trigger a product hold or recall, so this role works in close partnership with the FSQA Manager and the production team to catch errors before product ships.

Key Responsibilities

Label Production

• Print meal, case, and pallet labels daily from the approved production schedule and label templates
• Set up, load, and operate thermal and thermal-transfer label printers, including media and ribbon changes
• Enter and verify variable data for each run, including product name, lot code, pack date, use-by date, quantity, and customer information
• Generate pallet and shipping labels, including barcodes such as GS1-128/SSCC, to customer, co-man partner, and carrier requirements
• Apply labels to meals, cases, and pallets, or support production staff applying them on the line

Label Accuracy & Food Safety Compliance

• Check every label against the approved label master before each run, including ingredients, allergen statement, nutrition facts, net weight, and dates
• Confirm the correct label is matched to the correct product at line start and at every product changeover
• Scan barcodes to confirm they read correctly before product leaves the line
• Stop the run and notify the FSQA Manager immediately if a label error is found; support product holds when required
• Follow FDA food labeling requirements, GMP, and all PDJ FSQA procedures

Records & Label Inventory

• Complete label issuance and reconciliation logs for each run, including counts printed, used, and destroyed
• Securely destroy obsolete or misprinted labels and document their destruction
• Track label stock, ribbons, and printer supplies; communicate reorder needs to the Production & Fulfillment Operations Manager before shortages occur
• Keep label templates organized and use only the current approved version

Equipment & Workspace

• Clean and perform basic upkeep on label printers and applicators; report breakdowns promptly
• Keep the label station clean, organized, and compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and PPE requirements

General

• Communicate with production, FSQA, and fulfillment staff on label needs, changes, and schedule updates
• Assist with case packing, pallet staging, or other production work as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or GED
• Willingness to learn PDJ label printing software and equipment; training provided
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to catch small errors in dates, codes, and ingredient lists
• Comfortable with computers and label software; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace
• Basic math skills for counts, weights, and reconciliation
• Ability to read and follow written procedures and label specifications in English
• Ability to work independently and stay focused on repetitive, precision work

Preferred

• 1+ year of experience in commercial food production, food packaging, or warehouse labeling (strongly preferred)
• Experience with label design or printing software such as BarTender, NiceLabel, or ZebraDesigner
• Experience operating Zebra or similar thermal label printers
• Familiarity with allergen labeling, lot coding, or GS1 barcode standards
• Food handler or ServSafe certification
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for the majority of an 8–10 hour shift
• Ability to lift, push, and carry up to 50 lbs; bend, reach, and kneel to label cases and pallets
• Ability to work for extended periods in PDJ’s cold production environment (maintained at 41°F) and in refrigerated storage areas
• Close-up vision sufficient to read small print and verify label details
• Ability to wear required PPE, including hairnets, gloves, smocks, and safety footwear