Production Operator at Novonesis, Blair

Production Operator at Novonesis in Blair. Full-time. $25.05 an hour. Apply with swipeandhired.

Interested in a career that matters?

Join us as our new Production Operator in the Food Recovery Department. Our Production Operators at Novonesis are skilled workers tasked with setting up, monitoring, and maintaining equipment and processes in our industrial biotechnology factory. Our industrial biotechnology factory uses microbes (living organisms found in nature) to produce BioSolutions—enzymes produced by fermenting and feeding microbes—and proteins used as food ingredients. These BioSolutions support a wide range of industries, including food, household care, animal nutrition, and biofuels.

The Role & Your Impact
In this role, you'll ensure safety, quality, and compliance of our production processes. Daily responsibilities include:

• Preparing raw materials
• Troubleshooting equipment
• Operating plant processing computers
• Making minor repairs and replacing parts
• Testing materials for quality and compliance

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• High school diploma or equivalent
• 3+ years of industrial manufacturing experience preferred
• Proficient computer literacy
• Ability to move freely around the factory and outdoor surroundings, including pushing, pulling, kneeling, and squatting
• Ability to lift up to 60 pounds unassisted
• Ability to manually manipulate and operate equipment and tools (e.g., turning valves, aligning hoses)
• Use of PPE including uniform, hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, hair net, beard net, and respirator
• Ability to climb stairs and work at heights (ladders, platforms, tanks)
• Ability to enter and work in confined spaces
• Ability to pass a written test for certification purposes

Ways of Working / Working Conditions
Schedule:

• 12-hour shifts alternating between days & nights every 2 weeks (6:30–7:00 am/pm)
• 2‑2‑3 rotation:
• Week 1: Work Mon–Tue, off Wed–Thu, work Fri–Sun
• Week 2: Off Mon–Tue, work Wed–Thu, off Fri–Sun

Additional Information

• Overtime is frequently available
• Mandatory Certification program with promotion opportunities to Operator II and Senior Operator

Compensation & Benefits
Hourly Pay:

• $25.05 base rate
• $3/hr night shift differential
• 1.5× Sunday pay rate

Benefits you will enjoy:

• 401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution
• Minimum of 3 weeks of vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time
• Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance
• Healthcare savings account option
• Employee assistance program
• Parental leave
• All benefits begin on your first day

Relevant Information
Application Deadline: November 13, 2026

Our purpose guides the way
In Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we've gotten so far. And it’s how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless. If our purpose resonates with you, we encourage you to apply.

Opportunities for everyone
We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants. Therefore we ask you to apply without a cover letter or photo and instead include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying.

We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

Explore other openings
If this position isn’t the right fit, you may still find other opportunities with us. You’re welcome to explore open roles or create a job agent to stay connected with future opportunities at novonesis.com/Career