Job Description

The Neil Jones Food Company is an industry leader, processing superior quality fresh-packed, vine-ripened California tomatoes and Pacific Northwest fruit. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, NJFC has been providing our nation’s discerning foodservice, retail, industrial and institutional customers with the finest quality canned and pouched products for over 50 years. NJFC operates three production facilities: Northwest Packing in Vancouver, WA.; San Benito Foods, in Hollister, CA; and Toma-Tek in Firebaugh, CA.  

We are looking for a seasonal Sterilizer Operator I to monitor and control several processes, including; the volume and distribution of tomatoes at the Sterilizer deck, Dice Sterilizers and Pouch lines; cooking process of the dice sterilizers; formulated product and communicates with Flow Control Operators as to incoming tomato volume requirements. This role will be responsible for ensuring that Good Manufacturing Practices Policy (GMP’s), Safety and Health Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations are being followed at our TomaTek plant in Firebaugh, CA. This is a seasonal, union position, supporting our fresh pack season, typically June – October.

For additional information, please see our “About Us” video, Our Story - Neil Jones Food Company

Key Responsibilities: 

• Manually operates pneumatic controls to regulate diced tomato flow to sterilizers to maintain the volume of diced tomatoes required for maximum productivity.
• Communicates continuously with other departments (Control Room, Diced Filling and Pouch) regarding product flow supply issues, i.e., over or under supply, machinery breakdowns and other issues that will or could cause fluctuation in product delivery.
• Assists Supervisors in Equipment start-up, shut down and Clean In Process (CIP).
• Assists in keeping dumps, chains, belts and sprockets in good running condition.
• Ensure that all Good Manufacturing Policies (GMP’s) and Safety and Health Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures are being followed.

Requirements: 

• Requires 3 – 6 months of related experience in the Sterilizer Area or similar equipment experience; and basic mechanical and electrical skills to trouble shoot equipment.
• Requires the ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's.  Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, volume, and distance.
• Requires the ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Requires the ability to work with minimal supervision and to follow directions.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug test, work extended hours, weekends, and any shift assigned during the fresh pack season, typically July to early October. 

Benefits:

• Eligible for paid sick leave

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

The Neil Jones Food Company participates in E-Verify

E-Verify Participation

If You Have the Right to Work, Don't Let Anyone Take It Away

We are an Equal Opportunity and Fair Chance Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, citizenship status, genetic information, military or veteran status, and other protected status under applicable law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.