Cook (1st Shift)

About the role

The Cook Operator is responsible for safely, efficiently, and accurately executing all cooking, batching, ingredient transfer, documentation, and necessary cleaning procedures required to produce high-quality food products. This role ensures compliance with food safety standards, HACCP requirements, safety, and operational control protocols while maintaining good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to support food production.

Responsibilities

• Regular and prompt attendance; accurately enter all daily time records (hours worked) and adhere to attendance policy.
• Operate bucket lifts and cooking equipment safely and efficiently, including troubleshooting, cleanup, setup, quality control, and waste control.
• Perform cleaning within assigned area, both on daily turnaround and unplanned intervals.
• Maintain ingredient integrity, inspect tools prior to use, prevent cross-contamination, ensure compliance with food safety standards, and adhere to GMPs.
• Escalate acute and chronic problems and organizational issues to Lead, including safety hazards associated with hoses, steam leaks, platform slips, drain valves, and hot pressure releases.
• Support existing line operation documentation, such as AC-1 form, job ticket, cleaning records, CCP2 documentation, Gemba boards, changeover checklists, and 5S standards by completing required tasks and documentation at specified intervals.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Knowledge and ability to enter data into a computer and/or tablet.
• Understand food safety, sanitation, and allergen control (preferred).
• Previous work experience in a food manufacturing environment or industrial kitchen setting (preferred).
• Understanding of biological, chemical, and physical contamination types, and risks of listeria growth on floors/platforms (preferred).

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Physical Demands/Efforts

• Work requires frequent physical exertion, including lifting objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Extensive standing, verbal communication, and repetitive motion (bending, hands/wrists, arms, reaching).
• Frequently climb and balance up and down stairs.

Mental & Visual Demands

• Requires regular concentration to effectively execute moderately complex tasks.
• Frequently requires visual effort for extended periods.

Work Environment and Hazards

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, damp, and warm-temperature production environment.
• Exposure to heat, cold, dust, or other minor inconveniences in a manufacturing setting.
• Some exposure to hazards that might cause minor injury.
• Availability and flexibility to work different shifts and days, sometimes for weeks at a time; may require working weekends or overtime.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance (low or no cost).
• 401k with company match.
• Paid vacation and sick time.
• Paid holidays.
• Life Insurance and Disability Insurance.
• Tuition Assistance.

Core Values

• Honor Food – Create and produce the best tasting, safest, all-natural recipes that strive for perfection in every batch, from bench to kettle.
• Honor Each Other – Develop trusting, respectful, and mutually rewarding relationships with all team members and business partners.
• Honor Development – Recognize and nurture each other’s talents, strengths, and interests to further strengthen and grow the team.
• Honor Innovation – Continually strive for creative and sustainable ways to achieve excellence.