Machine Operator

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy! 

A day in the life…

As a Machine Operator, you will play an integral role in the chocolate production process from start to finish. You will be responsible for ensuring that each piece of candy produced meets the "Only the Finest" quality standards that our customers have come to expect. Your daily responsibilities will include operating and maintaining machinery, conducting quality inspections, keeping accurate records, maintaining a clean work area, and troubleshooting any issues that may arise. Your contributions are essential to our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

What you will be doing…

• Operates machinery, equipment, and tools in a safe and proficient manner according to standards, guidelines, and instructions.
• Inspects, receives, delivers, secures, and maintains product (raw or finished) per Russell Stover Chocolates guidelines.
• Inspects finished candy as it exits cooling tunnels; transfers candy from conveyor belt to trays and places trays in steels.
• Monitors candy weight, seals and secures boxes, transfers to pallet.
• Performs clean-up activities as assigned.
• Conforms to rules.
• Adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines to ensure product quality and uphold food safety standards.
• Learns to identify and address potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities, while maintaining proactive communication with supervisors.
• Documents food safety and quality procedures, maintaining detailed records of monitoring, verification, and corrective actions.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes? 

(Basic Qualifications)

• 18 years of age or older
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to read and understand rulers, tapes, scales, and thermometers
• Ability to routinely lift up to 50lbs
• Ability to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead
• Ability to stand on hard surfaces

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• High School diploma or GED
• 2 or more years’ experience operating machinery
• Ability to read and understand product specifications and recognize deviations.
• Experience operating a scan gun.
• A passion for learning

Experience the Excitement at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside cutting-edge equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens like nuts, milk, and more.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.