Trim Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About Us:

Carl Buddig and Company, a respected name in the meat manufacturing industry, boasts a legacy of over 80 years. Founded as a family-owned company, we have evolved into a leading producer of premium meat products, including renowned lunchmeats, ready-to-eat cooked meats under our Kingsford, LLC division, and savory snack meats from Old Wisconsin.

As a third-generation family business, our success is anchored in our commitment to quality, innovation, and community. With a workforce of 2,500 dedicated team members spread across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, we continue to expand, driven by a vision for excellence and a responsiveness to evolving consumer preferences.

At Carl Buddig and Company, we foster a culture centered around teamwork and innovation. We strive to create an environment that values creativity and collaboration, ensuring every team member is empowered to contribute to our collective goals.

Our dedication extends beyond our business operations. We actively support charitable initiatives and community organizations through direct contributions, volunteer work, and partnerships. We aim to make a positive impact and give back to the communities that have supported us over the years.

Join us at Carl Buddig and Company, where tradition meets innovation, and where our passion for quality meat products is matched by our commitment to our people and communities.

Position Summary:

The Basket Room Associate will effectively perform all of the required duties of the Basket Room Associate position in an accurate, thorough and safe manner as outlined per the Carl Buddig and Company job description. Employees are responsible for producing a safe and quality food product per USDA guidelines and are required to report all food safety related problems to their supervisor, manager, or to the quality assurance department in order to initiate immediate action.

Key Responsibilities: 

Trimming

• Associates need to keep up with a quick pace when trimming racks (removing outer edge of casing via the use of a knife) in order to ensure proper flow of product through the basket room and packaging process.
• Able to read meat code tags.
• Must pull (manually manipulate) wheeled meat racks (over 2,000 lbs.).

Packing

• Associates need to be able to pack 3 (three) baskets of fibrous casings or 2 (two) Plastic casings per hour or 1 (one) of Roast Beef every 40-45 minutes.
• Able to read meat code tags and verify the proper packing of one meat code per basket.
• Must be able to bend, hold, and peel logs weighing roughly 25 lbs.
• Must Pull (manually manipulate) wheeled meat racks (over 2,000 lbs.).
• Must move empty racks to cleaning station.

Smoke House

• Associates need to be able to handle the unloading of the smoke houses and pull (manually manipulate) wheeled meat racks of products into the blast cooler after the proper chilling temperature in the tempering room is achieved.
• Make sure to follow all HACCP procedures (associate should receive proper training from QA/QC prior to completing this task).
• Must Pull (manually manipulate) wheeled meat racks (over 2,000 lbs.).

Driving

• Material Handler(s) must be capable of driving a powered industrial truck to move and provide meat baskets to the various slicing lines.
• After baskets are fully packed and closed, material handler should verify that all meat code tags match and then proceed to weigh meat basket and create basket tickets with the correct information that is then put into the KM system for tracking procedures.
• Must be able to twist and bend.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.
   

Knowledge & Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of 1 – 2 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to legally work in the United States is required.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand for 8-9 hours per day.
• Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to bend, stoop and squat as needed.
• Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Must be able to pull 2000-pound wheeled racks on a frequent basis.
• Must be able to work 40 or more hours per week.
• Must be able to work mandatory overtime if necessary.
• Must have good hand/eye coordination.
• Must adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s).
• Must be flexible and able to work as needed (4:00AM to Noon, 12PM to 8:00PM, or 8:00PM to 4:00AM-approximate times).

Pay rate for this position is $18.00 per hour.

Benefits for this role include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Training and Development, Vacation & PTO, Referral Bonus Program, and Tuition Reimbursement.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Employment Decisions Statement 

Carl Buddig and Company does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, promotion, performance evaluations, discipline, or termination. All employment decisions are made by trained HR professionals and company leaders to ensure fairness, consistency, and compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act.