Senior Operator

Company Overview:

NDS, part of the Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) family of companies, is a leading provider of stormwater, irrigation, and flow management solutions. Since 1972, NDS has helped protect and enhance properties through innovative water management products and trusted customer support. Together with ADS, we are committed to preserving water for future generations while delivering sustainable solutions for residential, commercial, infrastructure, and agricultural applications.

Responsibilities and Qualifications:

The Senior Operator is responsible for performing the core functions of a Machine Operator while providing additional operational support to the production team. In coordination with the Sr. Lead and/or Supervisor, the Senior Operator assists with employee break and lunch coverage, ensures workstations remain supplied with required components, and supports the movement and preparation of finished product for warehousing. This position also assists with pallet wrapping and staging, box building, scanning, labeling, and label printing. The Senior Operator helps maintain safe, organized, and efficient production operations while supporting quality, productivity, and adherence to company policies and procedures.

Responsibilities:

Safety and 5S

• Follow all company safety policies and requirements.
• Wear PPE as required.
• Follow proper ergonomic practices, including safe lifting, bending, and twisting techniques.
• Report incidents in a timely manner.
• Identify and report potential safety risks through VBS.
• Maintain 5S standards throughout the plant and complete required 5S checklists, including keeping work areas clean and ensuring shadow boards are properly stocked.

Production and Material Handling

• Load and unload items from machines, conveyors, and conveyances.
• Assist Machine Operators with production activities.
• Remove products or work pieces from production equipment.
• Load and unload inserts into molds when required.
• Process products, including assembly, inspection, and wrapping.
• Monitor operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
• Operate electric and manual pallet jacks.
• Operate wrapping machines as required.
• Examine products to verify conformance to quality standards.
• Scan production parts using handheld scanners.

Support Machine Operators

• Provide break and lunch coverage as assigned by the Sr. Lead and/or Supervisor and complete hourly boards when substituting for Machine Operators.
• Remove completed pallets from machines.
• Wrap completed pallets using hand wrap and automatic wrapping equipment.
• Provide backup support to Machine Operators as needed.
• Ensure workstations have the required WIP components.
• Retrieve, build, and deliver boxes to machines.
• Print and deliver labels as required.

Production Documentation

• Read, understand, and complete travelers accurately.
• Record production scrap data on production scrap reports.
• Complete hourly boards as required.
• Understand and sign break and lunch forms and confirm operators are complying with company break and lunch policies.

Other

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as directed from time to time.

Position Requirements:

Education

• High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED).

Experience

• Three to six months of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to coordinate hand movements and use both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with the body, arms, and/or legs.
• Ability to make fast, simple, repetitive movements with the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Work Conditions:

• Work environment may occasionally include cold, hot, wet, and humid conditions.
• Exposure to moving mechanical parts, confined work areas, and high noise levels. Hearing protection will be provided.
• Ability to perform physical activities that require moving the whole body, including climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, and stooping.
• Physical activities often require considerable use of the arms and legs, including the physical handling of materials.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Company Benefits:

NDS offers excellent benefits options as part of the total compensation package with a suite of options covering Life, Medical, Dental, and Vision as well as a 401k Retirement Plans.

EEO Statement:

ADS supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience, and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. ADS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.