Summary/Objective
The production associate will assist in the production of various cheese products by performing one or more of the essential duties and responsibilities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Prepare cheese molds for production. Operate drain tables including but not limited to raking, shoveling, salting, monitoring moisture, and pH of cheese curd. Work in grinder area filling cheese into molds. Transfer cheese bands from water bath onto trays. Load multi-vac (cheese pouch sealer) with cheese product. Stack cheese molds onto racks and transfer to coolers using pallet jack. Clean and sanitize assigned work area. Make productive use of down time.

Additional Responsibilities
Relief team members on rotation as required. May perform additional responsibilities directed from management to ensure business operations run smoothly. Promote and follow Rizo Lopez policies and procedures. Recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator. Utilizing continuous improvement mindset, assist in identifying opportunities to improve processes. Follow Good Manufacturing Practices and maintain a clean and sanitary work area

Supervisory Responsibility
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements
Effective verbal, written, and listening communication skills;Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and prioritize successfully;Ability to work in a fast-paced environment performing repetitive and manually intensive duties.Demonstrated ability to work as a team player, and collaborate with colleagues;Effective problem solving skills;Attention to detail

Certification and License
None

Required Education and Experience
High school or GED certificate.

Preferred Education and Experience
6 months to 1 years related experience and/or training working in a food manufacturing environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Schedule
The typical work schedule is 8.00 hours per day 5 days per week; exact schedules and shifts are assigned by management.

Travel
No travel is expected for this position.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to 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 constantly stand/walk; bend/flex/extend/twist neck and waist; frequently grip/reach/lift/pull with L/ R hands; talk or hear. The employee frequently handles material from floor-to-waist, waist-to-shoulder, shoulder-to-overhead and pushing/pulling/carrying. Depending on the work station, the employee may regularly lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 65 pounds. See specific Job Conditions Worksheet for details. The employee must wear protective clothing, including but not limited to, rubber safety boots, hairnet, face mask, gloves, and earplugs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus and distinguish colors for food safety. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the coworkers and other staff.

Work Environment & Conditions
The work environment and conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is normally performed in a warehouse/production type atmosphere where the atmosphere may be humid and the temperature may vary from cold to hot. The floor is wet and slippery. The noise level in the work environment usually is moderate to loud. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, airborne particles, and hazardous chemicals. Employee should read the warning labels for information and instructions. Rizo Lopez maintains Safety Data Sheets (SDS) as required by law on hazardous products. SDSs are available for review by employees.

Limitations and Disclaimer
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities.

Nothing in this job description, nor by the completion of any requirement of the job by the employee, is intended to create an employment contract, implied or otherwise of any type. Employment is at will and may be terminated at any time by the employee or employer with or without cause or notice.