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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jar Loader

💰 $28,000 - $42,000

ManufacturingWarehouseFood ProductionPackaging

🎯 Role Definition

The Jar Loader is a hands-on production role responsible for feeding jars into automated filling and packaging lines, maintaining continuous product flow, performing quality and safety checks, and supporting line changeovers and preventive maintenance. This position requires excellent attention to detail, adherence to food-safety and OSHA standards, the ability to operate material handling equipment, and a commitment to meeting production targets while minimizing waste and downtime.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate / General Laborer
  • Packaging Assistant / Line Helper
  • Material Handler / Stock Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Lead Jar Loader / Line Lead
  • Packaging Supervisor / Shift Supervisor
  • Production Supervisor / Operations Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Quality Control / Quality Inspector (Food Safety)
  • Maintenance Technician / Mechanical Helper

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Load and stage empty and filled jars onto conveyor systems and into automated fillers, sealers, and labeling machines to ensure uninterrupted production flow and meet scheduled throughput targets.
  • Monitor the infeed and outfeed of jars on the production line, quickly remove broken or contaminated containers, and isolate non-conforming product following established quality procedures.
  • Conduct visual and mechanical inspections of jars (seams, threads, lids, labels) and perform in-line quality checks to detect defects, foreign material, or improper sealing, documenting results on production logs.
  • Set up and adjust guides, rails, and feed chutes to accommodate different jar sizes and packaging formats, ensuring correct alignment and smooth transfer between machines.
  • Perform line changeovers and product runs by following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), updating production documentation, and completing required verification steps for new SKUs.
  • Operate pallet jacks, hand trucks, and sit-down or stand-up forklifts (where certified) to stage pallets of jars, move raw material and finished goods, and prepare shipments in accordance with company palletizing standards.
  • Load jars into filler hoppers, loading conveyors, or bulk containers while maintaining safe material handling practices and minimizing breakage and product loss.
  • Collaborate with machine technicians to troubleshoot common mechanical jams, misfeeds, or sensor faults; perform basic adjustments and report complex mechanical issues for maintenance.
  • Execute end-of-line tasks including sealing, labeling, date coding, and tamper-evident checks; ensure labels are applied correctly and lot codes are legible and accurate.
  • Accurately complete production, quality, and sanitation logs, electronic batch records, and inventory adjustments using paper or Warehouse Management System (WMS) interfaces.
  • Participate in daily/weekly production meetings and shift handovers to communicate line status, quality issues, and safety concerns to incoming crews and supervisors.
  • Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP plans, and documented cleaning schedules, participating in routine sanitation and changeover cleaning as required.
  • Maintain production area housekeeping to meet 5S standards: return tools and materials to designated locations, dispose of broken glass and waste per safety policy, and keep aisles clear.
  • Adhere to all OSHA and company safety policies including lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures during equipment service, proper use of PPE, and reporting near-misses and incidents immediately.
  • Ensure correct inventory rotation (FIFO/LIFO as required) for jars and consumables, monitor re-order points, and alert supervisors of low stock or supply quality issues.
  • Assist quality and regulatory teams during internal and external audits by providing line records, explaining operational controls, and demonstrating adherence to documented procedures.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives by suggesting workflow, layout, or equipment-feed changes to reduce downtime, decrease jar breakage, and improve ergonomics for the team.
  • Train new operators on jar-loading best practices, SOPs, safety protocols, and basic troubleshooting; help certify temporary staff during peak production periods.
  • Execute scheduled preventive maintenance tasks like lubrication, belt tension checks, and small part replacements under guidance to reduce unplanned downtime.
  • Meet daily production targets and KPIs such as throughput, yield, downtime minutes, and quality reject rates while documenting exceptions and corrective actions.
  • Prepare finished goods for shipping by shrink-wrapping, strapping, labeling pallets, and staging to designated dock areas according to shipping instructions.
  • Operate and monitor auxiliary equipment (conveyors, accumulation tables, case erectors, stretch wrappers) and coordinate with other line operators to maintain overall line efficiency.
  • Follow allergen control and cross-contamination prevention protocols when handling product changeovers for different recipes or packaging lines.
  • Respond to emergency stops and line emergencies calmly, executing evacuation or containment procedures when required and assisting post-event root-cause analysis.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist cross-functional teams (quality assurance, production planning, maintenance) with special projects such as product rollouts and pilot runs.
  • Support inventory counts and cycle count activities to reconcile physical stock of jars, lids, and packaging materials.
  • Help maintain and update standard work documentation, visual aids, and changeover checklists to reflect current best practices.
  • Provide backup support on adjacent production lines or packing stations during absenteeism or surges in demand.
  • Help implement ergonomics improvements and lifting aids to reduce manual handling injuries across the loading area.
  • Participate in continuous training programs for food safety, PPE, and equipment operation to maintain certifications and compliance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Experience operating and feeding jars into automated filling, capping, labeling, and sealing equipment on high-speed production lines.
  • Forklift (counterbalance, sit-down, or reach) and pallet jack operation with valid certification and safe material handling experience.
  • Strong knowledge of food-safety systems such as HACCP, GMP, and allergen control procedures applied in a packaging or food production environment.
  • Proficient with production documentation: batch records, production logs, quality checklists, and inventory systems (WMS / ERP basics).
  • Basic mechanical aptitude to make minor adjustments to guides, belts, and feeders and to recognize symptoms of mechanical failure.
  • Competence in visual quality inspection techniques for detecting jar defects, mislabeling, seal failures, and foreign material.
  • Familiarity with standard measuring tools (calipers, scales) and simple process measurement for verification of fill levels and weights.
  • Experience with palletizing, stretch-wrapping, shrink-wrapping, and preparing shipments per carrier and company standards.
  • Knowledge of lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and basic preventative maintenance tasks to support machine reliability.
  • Ability to scan barcodes, read pick lists, and use handheld devices or tablets for inventory and production tracking.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail to identify defects and follow strict quality and safety protocols.
  • Effective verbal communication to coordinate with line operators, supervisors, and maintenance staff.
  • Team-player mentality with a dependable work ethic and the ability to work in a fast-paced, production-driven environment.
  • Problem-solving mindset to rapidly identify root causes of jams or rejects and to implement interim fixes until maintenance arrives.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to meet production targets and handle multiple tasks during changeovers.
  • Adaptability and willingness to work rotating shifts, overtime, and weekend schedules as production demands require.
  • Accountability and integrity in record-keeping, safety reporting, and adherence to SOPs.
  • Physical stamina and manual dexterity for repetitive handling, stacking, and fine manipulation of jars and lids.
  • Initiative to suggest process improvements and participate in continuous improvement activities (Lean, 5S).
  • Customer-focused attitude to ensure that final packaged products meet quality and delivery expectations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

  • Vocational certificate or technical training in manufacturing, food production, or mechanical maintenance.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Manufacturing Technology
  • Food Science / Food Safety
  • Mechanical Maintenance / Industrial Technology
  • Supply Chain / Logistics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1 to 4 years in production, packaging, or warehouse roles; food industry experience highly preferred.

Preferred:

  • 2+ years operating automated packaging lines (filling/capping/labeling), forklift experience, and a demonstrated record of meeting production KPIs and quality standards.
  • Prior experience with HACCP/GMP, LOTO procedures, and participation in continuous improvement initiatives.
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