Utilities Technician

Tillamook

Decatur, IL

Pay: $30+/hr

*Come join the Tillamook Team, one of the fastest-growing dairy brands in the US, where we* ***Play to Win*** *to create over 200 dairy products in 6 different categories: cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and cream cheese.*

*meals. Our* ***Uncompromising Quality*** *has led us to become the #1 Cheddar, #2 Cream Cheese and #3 Family Size Ice Cream brand, but we’re not stopping there. We’re loading up for our best years to come and want you to join us.*

*As a farmer-owned cooperative since 1909, we know that being* ***Good Stewards*** *for our stakeholders and doing a little extra always pays off. We’re looking for team members with a* ***One Team*** *and* ***Genuine Care*** *mindset who are inspired to share the delight of the Tillamook brand with each other and others every day.*

**What you will do:**

The Utilities Technician operates, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs the utility systems supporting safe and reliable production at the Decatur, Illinois ice cream manufacturing facility. This position is primarily responsible for the plant’s industrial ammonia refrigeration and boiler systems, including associated compressors, pumps, heat exchangers, valves, piping, controls, and safety devices. The Utilities Technician performs preventive and corrective maintenance, monitors system performance, responds to equipment and utility issues, and maintains accurate operating and maintenance records. This role works closely with Maintenance, Operations, contractors, and other partners to protect employees, maintain product and food safety, minimize operational disruptions, and improve utility-system reliability and efficiency.

**Here’s a day in the life:**

• Operate and maintain utility systems. Safely operate, inspect, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair the plant’s industrial ammonia refrigeration and boiler systems, including compressors, burners, pumps, condensers, evaporators, heat exchangers, vessels, valves, piping, controls, and safety devices.
• Monitor system performance. Monitor pressures, temperatures, levels, operating trends, alarms, and other system conditions to identify developing problems and take timely corrective action.
• Perform planned maintenance. Complete preventive and predictive maintenance, inspections, testing, and equipment repairs in accordance with plant procedures, maintenance schedules, and manufacturer recommendations.
• Respond to utility disruptions. Respond promptly to alarms, equipment failures, production needs, and utility-system emergencies; communicate system status and coordinate planned or unplanned interruptions with Maintenance and Operations.
• Support additional plant utilities. Assist with the operation, maintenance, and reliability of compressed air, steam, condensate, water, HVAC, and other plant utility systems as assigned.
• Diagnose equipment issues. Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control-system issues within the technician’s qualifications and coordinate specialized work with other technicians, vendors, or contractors when necessary.
• Maintain records and documentation. Complete accurate operating logs and document inspections, maintenance activities, repairs, parts used, system conditions, and required follow-up work in the computerized maintenance management system.
• Maintain safety, compliance, and reliability. Follow applicable plant safety, food safety, environmental, emergency-response, and process-safety requirements; participate in incident reviews and support improvements to utility-system safety, reliability, and efficiency.

**Knowledge, skills, and abilities:**

Required:

• High school diploma or GED.
• 2 years’ experience operating and maintaining industrial utility systems, including boilers, refrigeration, compressed air, steam, or related equipment.
• Mechanical troubleshooting experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.

Preferred:

• Experience operating and maintaining industrial ammonia refrigeration systems in a food, dairy, beverage, or other manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating and maintaining industrial boilers and steam-generation systems.
• RETA (Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association) certification, boiler operator certification, or equivalent technical training.
• Experience working within OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) programs and ammonia refrigeration safety requirements.
• Technical degree, vocational training, apprenticeship, or military training in industrial maintenance, utilities, refrigeration, HVAC, or a related field.
• Experience supporting utility reliability, energy management, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience in a food manufacturing environment and knowledge of food safety and sanitation requirements.

**Physical requirements:**

• Sitting
• Standing and/or walking
• Lifting 25 lbs
• Vision for machine or computer operations
• Hearing
• Corporate role Must be able to travel 25-50% between Tillamook manufa