Dry Extruder Operator – Tuffy’s Pet Foods

 Hours: 2pm-10pm M-F

Compensation:

• All in hourly compensation: $25.94/hr
  • Base Pay: $23.32/hr
  • Sign on Bonus: $1.22/hr worked
  • 6% Shift Differential for Mid Shift: $1.40/hr
• Profit Sharing Eligibility: Begins after completing 1 year of employment ($7.7 Million in Profits Paid to Profit Sharing Pool in 2025)

Our Coolest Benefit - Profit Sharing!

In our most recent fiscal year, KLN Family Brands paid out over $7.7 million into our profit sharing pool for employees!!

Our Story

KLN Family Brands is a 3rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships, and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”

Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people, the quality of our products, our spirit & moxie, our tradition, and the way we treat our community & beyond. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.

The Opportunity

Tuffy’s Pet Food is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the Mid Shift-Dry Extruder Operator position.  Requirements, desired qualification, skills and abilities located below.

Essential Duties: 

• Review and follow daily production schedule verifying against their product information sheets for accuracy.
• Communicate with the mill room and dry packaging personnel as to which bins should be used for their immediate production needs.
• Coordinate with slurry operators to verify which tanks to use for liquid injection products.
• Choose correct die plate and set up knives for next production run scheduled
• Operate the extruder and monitor ancillary equipment to produce products that meet the desired specifications set forth by the Quality Assurance Department.
• Visually inspect and save samples throughout all runs to be taken to the Quality Control Lab for final analysis.
• Responsible to record operation parameters and turn in at the end of each shift.
• Monitor all feed formulas presented to them for color, odor, and grind notifying supervisor of anything that looks out of specifications.
• Cleaning systems as required between production runs. Daily clean up and sanitation of extruder area.
• Setting up die plates for each different production run and monitoring knife wear.
• Calibrate process liquid mass flow meters prior to runs that require their usage
• Take monthly and semi-annual inventory of department ingredients.
• Involved in weekly cleaning of extrusion area per weekly cleaning schedule
• Notify maintenance of any unusual equipment noises or failures. Train New Department employees.

Qualifications

• General mathematical ability and basic computer skills
• Learning, memorizing and executing a sequence of procedures
• Must be able to read, speak, write and understand English
• Willing and able to get along with others.  Be willing to fill in on other shifts as required by supervisor.
• Good judgment, communication skills and reasoning abilities.
• Ability to handle weights of up to 100lbs and 50lbs on a routine basis

• Health, Dental, & Vision
  • Wellness program discounts - up to $150 discounted towards health insurance monthly
• 104 Hours of PTO Accrued in First Year of Employment
• 7 Paid Holidays
• KLN Clinic - Free doctor visits & more than 300 free prescriptions
• 401k Match Opportunity
  • Opportunity to meet with our onsite financial advisors 
• $10,000 Forgivable Home Grant Program
• Tuition Assistance

*All hires are contingent on a clean background check and a successful drug test (UA), this means that a job offer is not final until both the background check and drug test results are satisfactory to the employer*