Casual Kitchen Hand – Level 3

Porter Avenue Pies & Cakes; Geelong; On-site; AUD 43,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Porter Avenue Pies & Cakes in Geelong is seeking a hands-on Kitchen Hand to support pastry cooks, bakers and apprentices in a busy bakery production line, ensuring safe, efficient operation and accurate packaging. You will maintain high hygiene standards, assist with prep, label products, and follow allergen and traceability procedures while working across a 7-day roster starting early mornings.

This role suits reliable, detail-focused individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments and value

Qualifications

• Reliable, punctual and dependable.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Able to follow instructions, recipes, procedures and workplace standards.
• Organised and manages time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Washing, cleaning and sanitising production equipment, utensils, trays and work areas.
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and food safety throughout the production facility.
• Assisting with general food preparation and production duties as directed.
• Supporting pastry cooks, bakers and apprentices throughout production.
• Correctly packaging finished bakery products according to procedures, specifications and presentation standards.
• Checking products for quality, accuracy and presentation before packaging.
• Correctly labelling, dating and identifying packaged products.
• Following allergen-management, food-safety and traceability procedures.
• Receiving, unpacking, moving and correctly storing ingredients, packaging and stock.

Job description

This is a hands-on role within a fast-paced and busy commercial food production environment. A kitchen hand plays an important role in much more than cleaning. You will help keep our production flowing safely and efficiently by supporting our pastry cooks, bakers and apprentices, correctly packaging finished products, maintaining exceptional hygiene standards and ensuring tasks are completed accurately and on time.

Key responsibilities

Washing, cleaning and sanitising production equipment, utensils, trays and work areas

Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and food safety throughout the production facility

Assisting with general food preparation and production duties as directed

Supporting pastry cooks, bakers and apprentices throughout production

Correctly packaging finished bakery products according to procedures, specifications and presentation standards

Checking products for quality, accuracy and presentation before packaging

Correctly labelling, dating and identifying packaged products

Following allergen-management, food-safety and traceability procedures

Receiving, unpacking, moving and correctly storing ingredients, packaging and stock

Maintaining organised and efficient work areas

About you

Reliable, punctual and dependable

Positive attitude and strong work ethic

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment

Strong attention to detail

Able to follow instructions, recipes, procedures and workplace standards

Uses initiative and can identify what needs to be done

Organised and manages time effectively

Takes accountability for work, actions and time management

Communicates respectfully with colleagues and leaders

Works collaboratively and understands the importance of teamwork

Physical requirements

This is an active and physically demanding position. Applicants must be physically capable of safely performing the inherent requirements of the position, including safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 15kg, standing and moving for extended periods, regular bending, reaching and lifting, undertaking repetitive tasks associated with commercial food production, cleaning and packaging, and working efficiently in a busy production environment while maintaining safe work practices and attention to detail.

Availability

Our bakery production operation works across a 7-day roster. Applicants must be available to work a flexible roster across Monday to Sunday, be available for shifts commencing from 6:00am, be available for a combination of weekday and weekend shifts according to production requirements, have reliable transport and be able to attend early-morning shifts, and arrive on time and be ready to commence work at the rostered starting time.

About us

Porter Avenue Pies & Cakes is a growing, family-owned bakery. We believe employment should provide an opportunity to learn, contribute and grow. We value people who are curious, ask questions, take responsibility and understand that every position within our bakery contributes to the success of the whole team.