Location: Bluffton, IN
How will you fit in the big picture? The Packaging Specialist supports safe, reliable, and efficient packing operations at our Bluffton manufacturing facility. This hands-on technical role coordinates packaging equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, process improvement, SQF compliance, operator capability, and product qualification activities. You will partner with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Training, R&D, and external technical resources to improve equipment performance, reduce waste, and strengthen operator effectiveness.
What will you do? • Maintain, troubleshoot, and support repair of packaging equipment, including conveyors, scales, packaging machines, metal detectors, formers, and related ancillary equipment.
• Own recurring preventive maintenance and inspection processes, including PMO routes, completion tracking, documentation, and SQF compliance.
• Use structured troubleshooting and root cause analysis to resolve moderately complex equipment and process issues, escalating matters outside established authority.
• Track and improve equipment reliability and performance measures, including mean time to failure, mean time between failures, machine rates, waste, and operator compliance.
• Maintain the PMO Tier Progression program by assessing skills, identifying training needs, supporting bid recommendations, and updating training materials and troubleshooting guides.
• Coordinate parts inventory and maintenance planning with the ATS Site Manager, Planner/Scheduler, Engineering, Maintenance, and Parts Specialist.
• Support small technical and continuous improvement initiatives, including equipment changes, CapEx implementation, R&D trials, sample requests, and validation of results.
• Communicate technical findings, trends, and recommendations to plant leaders and cross-functional partners to support corrective actions and production effectiveness.
• Support plant SQF and KPI goals, including foreign material investigations, metal detector deviations, customer complaint investigations, and continuous improvement activities.
Minimum Requirements Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.
Experience: 1+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing equipment, packaging operations, maintenance, technical support, or a related environment.
Technical capability: Demonstrated ability to maintain, troubleshoot, calibrate, or repair manufacturing or utility systems using established procedures.
Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt technical information for different audiences.
Computer skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Outlook.
Work style: Strong organization, leadership, and prioritization skills, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities.
Preferred: Snack food or food manufacturing equipment experience and a Green Belt certification, or the ability to obtain one.
Benefits and Perks At Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.
- Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health begin on Day 1.
- Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match
- Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable
- Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility
Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $72,400 to $90,500 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance-based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well-being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey's benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com
