Line Operator

About WA Imports:

WA Imports is a specialty sauce company based in Hebron, Illinois, and a subsidiary of Forever Cheese, LLC. This role supports our sauce operation: the ingredients you will prepare and the products you will package and label are for our specialty sauce lines, not cheese.

About our parent company, Forever Cheese:

Forever Cheese, LLC. is a privately held specialty food company headquartered in New York City with warehouse locations in Secaucus, New Jersey and Hebron, Illinois. Founded in 1998, Forever Cheese is the leading importer of fine artisan cheese, cured meats, nuts and accompaniments from the Mediterranean. Our relationships with both suppliers and customers are of utmost importance. For over 20 years, the company has sourced authentic specialty foods from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia. Some of our company-owned brands include Mitica®, Drunken Goat® and Fulvi® Pecorino Romano.

This position is with WA Imports in Hebron, IL. Day to day, you will be working with WA Imports’ specialty sauce products on the production floor.

About Our Benefits

• Weekly pay with a full-time, 40-hour schedule
• Overtime pay at one and one-half times your regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
• Paid leave in accordance with the Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act
• Opportunity to convert to a regular, full-time position after the 90-day temporary period, based on business needs and performance
• Upon conversion, eligibility for medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, and 401(k), subject to each plan’s terms

Job Title: Line Operator

Location: Hebron, IL (Fully On-Site)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Temporary-to-Regular (40 Hours per Week)

Temporary Period: First 90 calendar days. Conversion to a regular, full-time position is based on business needs and performance, attendance, and conduct, and is not guaranteed.

Reports To: John West

Pay Range: $20 per hour | Weekly Pay

Exemption Status: Non-exempt (Hourly)

About The Role:

The Line Operator is responsible for preparing, processing, and packaging WA Imports’ specialty sauce products according to company standards and specifications. Operating out of our Hebron, IL location, this role involves operating production machinery, weighing ingredients, packaging and labeling products, and monitoring product quality to ensure production meets food safety and quality standards and is completed on time. This is a full-time, temporary-to-regular position based on the production floor, with a 90-day temporary period and the opportunity to convert to a regular, full-time position based on business needs and performance.

Successful candidates...

• Are dependable and punctual, with a strong commitment to safety and quality.
• Follow instructions, standard operating procedures, and food safety rules accurately and consistently.
• Thrive in a fast-paced production environment, keeping up with the line without cutting corners on quality or safety.
• Work well as part of a team, communicating with coworkers and supervisors to keep production running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare ingredients and food items for production, including weighing and measuring ingredients according to company specifications.
• Operate production machinery and equipment safely and in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Package and label finished products accurately so they are ready for sale.
• Check ingredients and finished products for quality, and report any issues to a supervisor or Quality Assurance (QA).
• Follow food safety regulations, health codes, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Keep the production area clean, organized, and sanitary.
• Complete and maintain accurate production records.
• Carry out any additional duties that may be assigned or requested.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 0 to 1 years of experience in food production, manufacturing, or a related production environment.
• Knowledge of food production methods and techniques, or willingness to learn.
• Good hand-eye coordination and the ability to work on a production line.
• Ability to follow instructions and adhere to health, safety, and food safety regulations.
• Ability to work in a team and in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Requirements

• Primarily based on the production floor within a food production environment.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, with frequent bending and reaching.
• Ability to lift and move items up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow food safety dress requirements.

Safety Commitment

Safety is our top priority. All employees are expected to follow all safety policies, report unsafe conditions immediately, and actively participate in safety training as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Forever Cheese, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities and requirements, but constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function within our company. Forever Cheese, LLC reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet changing industry or business needs as necessary.