Manufacturing Network Administrator

  • Full-time
  • Department: IT
  • Site Location: Alpena

Company Description

Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Pepperami.

Job Description

Come Run with Sasquatch as a Manufacturing Network Administrator to install, monitor and maintain the network, software, and infrastructure used in the operation of our plant. In this hands-on role, you will build strong, collaborative relationships between the IT team, the plant and corporate engineering teams, and all other Jack Link's business teams. You will serve as a subject matter expert in the integration, operation, and support of plant automation, MES, network, systems and Information Technology systems. Additionally, you will work with the senior network and systems engineers to provide a technical perspective and to help process owners identify opportunities for technology expansion.

Specifically, you will: 

  • Ensure that all corporate and IT policies, procedures, and standards regarding systems and network builds and operations are built per Jack Link’s technical and security policies
  • Ensure that systems and networks are built in a way that emphasizes uptime, availability, supportability, and recoverability per defined service level agreements
  • Identify, build and test standard LAN, WLAN, SCADA hardware and software, automation technologies, and additional network and telephonic components, their associated hardware, software and security
  • Work with IT and Corporate Engineering to develop documentation and technology roadmaps that can be replicated across the company
  • Take part in the build, management, maintenance, and operations of the plant MES and automation systems used in the plant
  • Partner with site leadership and Information Technology to understand business requirements that pertain to LAN/MES/Telephonic and other networking services required to keep JL functioning and provide technology solutions
  • Identify problem management trends and determine root cause analysis of issues
  • Identify non-value added manual support tasks and automate to reduce team impact
  • Effectively prioritize and execute tasks as assigned from internal and project leadership
  • Utilize and update enterprise ticketing system to keep a record of work assigned and maintain expected Problem/Service Level Agreements with the business and ensure timely escalation of client problems
  • Perform troubleshooting on network, servers, and software and own the problem to resolution
  • Perform level 1/2 analysis, diagnosis, and resolution of technical problems for a variety of end users plus identify, test and implement corrective hardware solutions, including off-site repair, as needed.
  • Maintain an inventory of all network components and services
  • Develop training materials and procedures, and/or train users in the proper use of hardware and software.
  • Performs other duties and responsibilities as necessary.
  • Provide on-call, off-hours and weekend support as assigned to support the JLBJ staff

Qualifications

Required Education:

  • Bachelor Degree in computer science related field or equivalent work experience
  • Cisco CCNA level experience/certification

Required Experience:

  • 3 - 5 years recent network support experience
  • Ability to configure Cisco switches, routers and firewalls as per the standard configuration template.
  • Ability to effectively communicate technical information to non-technical personnel.
  • Able to read and understand technical manuals and procedural documentation.
  • Strong customer-service orientation.
  • Effective interpersonal skills and relationship-building skills.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Self-motivated and directed with keen attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of current technological developments and trends in industry.
  • Available for after hours support as needed
  • Valid driver’s license and insurabley
  • Ability to travel to other plants

Preferred:

  • 4-year technical degree in computer science field
  • Experience operating and Maintaining plant control, automation, and MES systems

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE and ABILITIES:

  • Proven understanding of network and telephonic components and services.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; must work effectively with all levels of management and employees
  • Must demonstrate effective leadership, problem solving, presentation, and employee motivational skills.
  • Proficient in Internet navigation, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Additional Information

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
We provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.