Production Technician - Fruit by the Foot and Gushers
General Mills · Geneva, IL
- Level
- Technician
- Team
- Production
- Industry
- Food & beverage
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A technician-level production role at General Mills (food & beverage) in Geneva, IL.
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Manufacturing Technician roles in the US: typical posted base $60k–$91k.
Median of the low and high ends of 50 live postings that list pay, out of 825 manufacturing technician openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 25 other live production postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $76k–$106k, from 15 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 3+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 96%
- Lean 38%
- SAP 27%
- Union environment 27%
- 5S 27%
- MES 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at General Mills
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: General Mills in Geneva
3 other open roles at this site.
- Food Safety & Quality Technician - Geneva Plant · Quality · Technician
- Maintenance Technician - Desserts · Reliability · Technician
- Maintenance Technician - Fruit by the Foot and Gushers · Reliability · Technician
Full description from General MillsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
- ✓Minimum of a high school diploma or GED
- ✓Must possess the ability to understand and effectively communicate with co-workers, supervisors, and others in the workplace regarding work matters (our business is generally conducted in English)
- ✓Basic mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot basic problems
- ✓Ability to learn and build technical skillsets in electrical and/or mechanical
- ✓Basic computer skills with the ability to use digital tools and systems to complete daily work tasks
- ✓Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
- ✓Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, push, pull, and twist for extended periods
- ✓Willingness to work in hot, cold, noisy, wet, or dusty conditions
- ✓Ability to climb and/or work at heights while utilizing stairs, ladders, personnel lifts, or platforms
- ✓Ability to follow human and food safety, quality, and grooming standards
- ✓Ability to wear such as protective clothing and equipment (Personal Protective Equipment -PPE) such as safety shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, hard/bump cap, hair/beard net, gloves, and face masks (when required)
- ✓Ability to work around high-speed machinery and food allergens
Preferred qualifications
- ✓Manufacturing or production experience
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Company overview
We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.
Position overview
- •Production Technician – Fruit by the Foot and Gushers
- •Starting Pay: $26.90 per hour
- •12-hour shifts
Why Join Our Team
Our Geneva facility, located in the western Chicago suburbs in Kane County, joined the General Mills North America plant network in 2024. Here, we proudly produce Betty Crocker desserts, our iconic Gushers and Fruit Snacks. Our team is driven by being humble, hungry and smart and making a positive impact both within the company and in the local community (#StandingforGood). General Mills is dedicated to employee growth. If you're looking for a safety-first environment where you can develop leadership skills, expand technical capabilities, and drive results, then GMI Geneva is an excellent place to build your career.
What We Have to Offer
- •$26.90 per hour starting rate
- •Internal Advancement Opportunity Rates:
- •Technician I: $28.09 per hour
- •Technician II: $30.60 per hour
- •Technician III: $33.32 per hour
- •Technician IV: $36.62 per hour
- •Technician IV Level Completion: $40.84 per hour
- •All rates include $2.00 per hour for rotation schedule differential
- •Up to 120 hours of vacation annually
- •11 paid company holidays
- •401(k) with company match
- •Medical, dental, life insurance
- •Career growth and cross-training opportunities
Your Work Schedule and Shift Information
- •We prioritize work life balance, health and wellness, and equal access to resources for development opportunities and advancement.
- •Our Fruit System (Fruit by the Foot and Gushers) has:
- •12-hour shifts
- •Day shift: 5:30 am to 6:00 pm
- •Night shift: 5:30 pm to 6:00 am
- •Shift Schedule
- •2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off
- •Shift Rotation (2-week work blocks)
- •2 weeks on days then 2 weeks on nights
- •Schedule Perks
- •182 Scheduled Days Off Per Year
- •Every other weekend is a 3-day weekend
- •Ability and willingness to work overtime, any shift, including days, nights, weekends, holidays and emergency events
- •Plant operation is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
As part of our manufacturing team, you will
- •Demonstrate leadership behaviors that positively impact results/outcomes for the shift team
- •Have Equipment Ownership including operation, improvement, and maintenance of equipment
- •Own and manage DMS (Daily Management System) activities inside and outside of shift DDS (Daily Direction Setting)
- •Troubleshoot problems with machinery and partner with maintenance staff for support
- •Calibrate processing and packaging systems daily to meet required specifications
- •Participate in startup, changeover, and shut down of operating equipment
- •Participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance
- •Have skillset and leadership development opportunities with a pay for skills program to achieve higher pay levels by developing and acquiring new skills from an "Equipment Ownership", "Process Ownership" and Leadership" standpoint
- •Assist in training new employees
Eligibility
Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.
Check out why General Mills Manufacturing is a great place to grow a career: