Dishroom Lead

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC is seeking a Dishroom Lead in Iola, KS to supervise sanitation teams and ensure a clean, compliant production area. You will train staff, apply SSOPs, and manage paperwork while maintaining allergen controls and GMP standards to support food safety and quality objectives.

The role emphasizes leadership, 5S discipline, and proactive communication in a fast-paced chocolate manufacturing environment. Join a team dedicated to safety and product excellence.

Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older.
• Experience in an industrial cleaning environment.
• Ability to routinely lift up to 50lbs.
• Ability to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
• Lead or supervisory experience.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Ability to read and understand sanitation specifications.

Responsibilities

• Directs, controls, monitors, assists and trains employees assigned to a specific area, line or team per Supervisor's instructions.
• Communicates with and delegates tasks to team members.
• Disassembles and/or cleans and sanitizes equipment per RSC guidelines to ensure FDA standards are maintained in the plant.
• Requests, receives, delivers, secures, and maintains products and materials required to do the job.
• Maintains records, delivers, inspects and performs all activities required of other members of the area, line or team.
• Operates and maintains machinery, equipment, and tools in a safe and proficient manner according to guidelines, standards, and instructions.

Skills

Communication skills

English fluency

Physical stamina

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Title: Dishroom Lead

Location: Iola, KS

Department: Sanitation

Status: Full-Time

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you'll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman's, and Pangburn's have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let's continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life...

As a Dishroom Lead, you will be responsible for directing, training, and assisting employees to ensure your specific area remains safe, efficient, and meets quality standards. Your day will involve continuous learning, tackling new challenges, and maintaining a keen attention to detail. Key tasks will include training new team members, interpreting and applying SSOPs, completing necessary paperwork, breaking down and sanitizing machinery, ensuring all allergens are removed from designated areas, and overseeing the general sanitation of plant equipment. The ideal candidate for this position is passionate about cleaning, has strong leadership skills, and is comfortable working on your feet in a fast-paced environment.

What you will be doing...

• Directs, controls, monitors, assists and trains employees assigned to a specific area, line or team per Supervisor's instructions.


• Communicates with and delegates tasks to team members.


• Disassembles and/or cleans and sanitizes equipment per RSC guidelines to ensure FDA standards are maintained in the plant.


• Requests, receives, delivers, secures, and maintains products and materials required to do the job.


• Maintains records, delivers, inspects and performs all activities required of other members of the area, line or team


• Operates and maintains machinery, equipment, and tools in a safe and proficient manner according to guidelines, standards, and instructions.


• Performs other clean-up activities assigned by the supervisor.


• Reassembles plant machinery to prepare for each day's production.


• Ensures the plant floor is 5S compliant before each production day.


• Monitors proper use and inventory of cleaning and sanitizing chemicals.


• Adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.


• Completes and follows FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant's food safety and quality objectives.


• Promptly reports and takes appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.


• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company's Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

Basic Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older.


• Experience in an industrial cleaning environment


• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation


• Ability to routinely lift up to 50lbs


• Ability to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend and lift overhead.


• Ability to stand on hard surfaces

Do you stand above the rest?

Preferred Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED


• Two or more years in a manufacturing facility


• Lead or supervisory experience


• Ability to read and understand sanitation specifications


• A passion for cleaning

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we've got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you'll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we'll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you're always in the know!


• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside a variety of equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels - it's a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!


• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you're on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there's never a dull moment. This is a place where you'll stay on the move!


• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.


• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!


• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.


• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.