Utilities Technician

Daisy Brand

Boone, IA

Pay: $32+/hr

**Position Summary**

Daisy Brand, a fifth-generation family-owned dairy company and the maker of America’s favorite sour cream and cottage cheese, is opening a brand-new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Boone, Iowa. As a member of the start-up team, you will complete paid, structured training at our established plants nationwide, work side by side with Engineering during installation and commissioning, and step into the new facility on day one already knowing it better than anyone.

The Utility Maintenance Technician manages the operations, maintenance, repair and troubleshooting of all plant utility systems. Utility systems include but are not limited to low pressure steam supply/return, ammonia refrigeration, compressed air, wastewater, water purification, and various cooling/heating water loops. The technician will be responsible for daily oversight of the utility systems during their shift while completing daily rounds, PM, scheduled and emergency work orders.

The Technician will also be responsible for completing/helping to complete projects scheduled during their shift. This may include supervising subcontractors (plumbing, welding, roofing, electrical, and insulation). In addition to utility systems, the technician will be responsible for building related issues that arise during their shift, or must be repaired during that time. This may include, but is not limited to, restroom facilities, lighting, HVAC, roofing, flooring, plumbing as required. The Utility Maintenance Technician assures that the building and utilities serving the production process operate at the highest efficiencies, assuring food safety and quality across the plant.

**Plant Start-Up Expectations**

Starting up a new plant is demanding and rewarding, and we believe in being transparent about what this role requires. Hiring will occur in phases, and expectations differ by phase.

• **Start-Up Crew:** As part of the start-up crew, you will train hands-on at our established plants – approximately two or more weeks of company-paid travel per month during the first twelve months.
• **Plant Opening Team:** Candidates unable to travel as part of the start-up crew may still be considered for offers with a later start date, joining as the plant opens with minimal to no travel required.

During the plant start-up period, your schedule will vary based on training and commissioning needs, including travel as outlined above. Upon the facility reaching normal operations, your schedule is expected to transition to your long-term agreed upon schedule. All travel, overtime, and schedule expectations for training and long-term will be confirmed in writing in any offer letters. Daisy Brand will communicate schedule changes as far in advance as possible.

The start-up period offers significant overtime earning potential. Once the plant reaches steady-state operation, the team averages 45 hours per week with a focus on work-life balance.

**Travel Expectations**

To support the successful startup of a new manufacturing facility, this position requires some travel for training, knowledge transfer, and operational readiness activities. The selected candidate must be willing and able to travel periodically as needed prior to plant startup. Travel may include extended stays to receive hands-on training, participate in equipment commissioning activities, and teach plant processes and procedures. Weekend travel and work may be required based on training schedules, project timelines, and business needs. Employees will be expected to maintain a flexible schedule throughout the startup and training period. Business travel expenses, including transportation, lodging, and meals, will be paid for or reimbursed in accordance with Daisy Brand's travel and expense reimbursement policies. This temporary travel commitment is critical to ensuring employees are fully prepared to support safe and successful plant operations.

**Key Responsibilities**

Daily Rounds

• Daily observation of all utility machinery.

• Daily recording of key operating parameters.

• Frequent checks using plant automation software to ensure systems are running properly.

Completing Work Orders

• Preventive Maintenance work orders will be scheduled on a regular basis for both utility and building systems. Technician will need to complete these and observe/report the condition of the equipment and schedule any necessary additional work

• Regular work orders will be scheduled as need to complete repairs on both building and utility systems. These may be requested by the technician or other plant personnel. The technician will need to be able to communicate with those requesting work to ensure the work is completed to their satisfaction.

• Emergency work orders will often be initiated and completed by the technician in response to a machine/system failure that is in need of immediate attention. The technician will be responsible determining the root cause quickly and efficiently an