Refrigeration Technician

About the Company

We pride ourselves on being family-owned and operated and treating our employees like family. Working at a company where safety and quality are top priorities. Every day, Wawona Frozen Foods' commitment to excellence justifies its reputation for delivering superior quality, value, and service. Wawona's state-of-the-art production methods and facilities ensure consistent high-quality products while maintaining the highest food safety standards as required by the USDA and state regulators.

About the Role

Technician for the refrigeration department with the ability to handle most of the needs required for the department's equipment. Works in close communication with the department lead or supervisor to ensure that daily, weekly, and monthly goals are met. Monitors systems to ensure proper operation and ensures that countermeasures are followed or developed to avoid any crises that can arise. Communicates and asks for help to perform tasks critical to the system.

Responsibilities

• Active participation in Wawona Frozen Foods safety program to maintain a healthy and injury-free environment.
• Participate in training and company meetings to facilitate individual and company growth.
• Follow all GMP, HAACP, Food Safety, Food Defense, and SQF policies and procedures.
• Perform work in accordance with all quality systems requirements included in SQF policies and procedures, including Food Safety, Food Defense, HACCP, and GMPs, as well as meet all company corporate requirements related to quality and food safety programs.
• Report Food Safety problems to personnel with authority to initiate action. Empowered to act to resolve food safety issues within their scope of work.
• Intermediate ability to perform Total Productive Maintenance in any equipment, including but not limited to repair or replacement of: Bearings, Bushings, Shafts, Gear Boxes, Greasing, Lubing, etc.
• Entry-level knowledge and ability to perform and understand electrical work.
• Ability to read schematics or other engineering drawings.
• Intermediate ability to assess issues, troubleshoot, and develop proper countermeasures.
• Inspect systems, equipment, and components to identify hazards, defects, and the need for adjustment or repair, and to ensure compliance with codes.
• Work as a team within the department and with other departments.
• Active member of our HAZMAT team.

Requirements

• 3+ years' work experience in refrigeration for a food or similar manufacturing facility.
• RETA I or RETA II preferred.
• Intermediate Ammonia system knowledge, including ability to do assessments, troubleshooting, fixing, and maintaining the ammonia system under some guidance for critical jobs.
• Complete safety program training, including but not limited to: Ammonia systems safety, Lock Out Tag Out, Hazmat, Confined Space Entry, Hot Works, PIT, SDS/Chemical Safety, NFPA 70E, etc.
• RMP/PSM program knowledge, including system configuration, site evacuation, emergency contacts, and procedures.
• Ability to read, write, follow instructions, and recognize similarities and differences.
• Ability to do basic math: addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.
• Ability to perform operations while maintaining a high level of quality and wearing appropriate personal protection equipment.
• Ability to do continuous repetitive work.
• High attention to detail and thorough practice of note/record keeping.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent listening skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A strong work ethic and a can-do attitude.
• Self-motivated and self-starter.
• Strict adherence to GMP guidelines.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to work under deadlines and timelines.
• Ability to work with various employees and employee levels while building rapport and respect.
• Ability to read, write, and understand instructions in English.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
• Must be punctual and regular attendance is required.
• Understand and follow all color-coding rules as stated in procedures.
• Ability to use various computer programs including Excel, Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Schedule

This position will work out of our Cedar location.

• Schedule: Tuesday through Saturday
• Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• Ability to work weekends and overtime as needed.

Benefits

• Full-time employees are eligible to participate in our competitive benefit package which includes a generous 401k with company match, medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Employer-paid life insurance, employee assistance program, and voluntary life, cafeteria 125 flexible spending, and dependent care accounts.
• Wawona Wednesday's, End of Season Appreciation Events, T-shirts and Hats, Employee of the Month.

Why Should You Apply

We learn together. We believe in supporting all employees with all the training, resources, and tools to be successful. We invest in our people, we learn together, we take the time to train, and we grow together. We celebrate our people and want each employee to have a long career with Wawona Frozen Foods. We focus on building and keeping relationships, going above and beyond, and offering world-class service. Empowering each team member to make Wawona Frozen Foods better every day, come up with improvements, and suggest innovations. We are proud of our history and want to continue to leave a legacy.

Wawona Frozen Foods promotes a work environment that encourages problem-solving, collaboration, and a culture of growth. We roll up our sleeves, we get dirty, we exemplify true grit, and we support each other because we truly care about our people. We pride ourselves on having a diverse team matching our diverse product base. We have an inclusive culture where different professional and personal perspectives, ideas, and suggestions are respected and welcomed.

Physical and/or Mental Demands

• Work in an environment where there can be medium to loud noise and cold temperatures.
• Frequent standing and walking, and use of hands, fingers, and arms to pull, reach, twist, and lift.
• Ability to sit and use a computer as needed.
• Will spend most of the day standing, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, twisting, or crawling.
• Ability to talk or hear instructions over machinery, equipment, and other processing equipment.
• A fast-paced environment that requires high attention to detail and minimal downtime.
• Occasional lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects, such as buckets, boxes, pails, etc. Lifting requirement: Must be able to lift or move up to 50 lbs. independently.
• Other duties as assigned requiring repetitive tasks, duties, or assignments.
• Work flexible/varying schedules to support the team and deadlines.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• May occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical parts, extreme cold, and vibration.
• Exposure to the smell of cleaning products and agents for the sanitation of equipment and machinery regularly.
• Wear appropriate personal protection equipment and adhere to the dress code as outlined for working in a food manufacturing facility.
• Cannot be allergic to fruit.

Applicants must be fully authorized to work in the U.S. and physically be in the U.S. Wawona Frozen Foods is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected factor.