food Processing Line Lead

About the role

The Cook Chill Lead role is an on-site position and requires regular attendance at the facility. It is responsible for coordinating and overseeing daily production activities within the Cook Chill Department. This role ensures that all prepared food items are produced safely, efficiently, and in accordance with Charlie’s Produce quality standards, regulatory requirements, and production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Directs daily cook chill operations, including batching, cooking, chilling, portioning, mixing and packaging
• Plan, implement and monitor the day-to-day operation
• Communicate with the team about any changes, new items and any concerns.
• Assigns tasks to production staff and ensures workflow meets production schedules
• Maintains product quality, consistency, and adherence to recipes and specifications
• Troubleshoots production issues and escalates equipment or process concerns
• Enforce all HACCP, GMPs, USDA, FDA, and all food safety regulations. Be able to work with USDA inspector, QA and Audits
• Complete and document required tasks accurately and legibly (weights, counts, quality checks, temperature logs, ingredient check off and allergens, inventory, Decant and any additional document that need to fill out for production runs)
• Ensure proper operation of kettles, chillers, pumps, fillers, and related equipment
• Train new employees in cook-chill procedures, safety and equipment operation
• Communicate with supervisors, QA, and other departments to coordinate production needs (checking in with supervisor at the beginning and end of shifts)
• Be able to motivate employees in a team-based environment
• Evaluate performance of staff, build and motivate effective teams to ensure the organizational goals for diversity, career development, productivity, performance management and employee involvement are met
• Lead by example and understand all aspects of production
• Keep track on expiration dates and inventory of produce/follow proper rotation to ensure older product is used first/keep track of waste
• Label and organize all product/maintain a clean and organized workstation following food safety and sanitation procedures
• Make sure all orders for the day are fulfilled and of good quality standard/ make sure everything is delivered to designated areas. USDA, Room 4, warehouse and any other areas
• Inventory control and be able to place orders for the next day
• Lead fast paste and safe production runs to complete orders in a timely manner for trucks to be out on schedule
• Make sure associates have all their needs equipment, produce, paperwork and anything else they need to be successful to complete assignments assigned to them in an efficient order.
• Multitask and be able to solve any issues that come across
• Make sure all products are safe to consume and label correctly and packaged up to weight, Follow recipes and directions
• Be able to run orders by allergen control and store them properly so we don't cross-contaminate product
• After finishing orders for the day make sure to communicate with warehouse supervisor or lead for any issues or missing orders. Make sure all orders are completed from the allocation
• Report any suspicious activity or broken equipment that is not safe to use
• Responsible for scheduling breaks, lunches, and to ensure they are following company policies. Be aware of every associate whereabouts
• Complete assignments as assigned
• Make sure at the end of the day everything is labeled, stored correctly, cleaned and organized, collected all paperwork, and make sure it’s filled correctly. No associate left behind make sure everyone leaves like a team

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, preferably in a cook–chill or ready to eat environment
• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMPs, and food safety regulations
• Ability to lead and motivate a production team
• Comfortable operating industrial cooking and chilling equipment
• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and work in hot and cold environments
• Strong communication and organizational skills