Kitchen/Production Assistant

Madstone USA Inc; Westerville (OH); On-site; USD 16,531 - 22,041; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-the-job training

Consistent daytime production schedule

Opportunities to learn commercial food

Co-packing operations exposure

Employee product discounts

Job summary

Madstone USA Inc in Westerville, Ohio is seeking a hands-on Kitchen / Production Employee to assist with all stages of food production. You will prepare ingredients, weigh and measure, cook, fill containers, label, package, and maintain production records.

The role emphasizes following recipes, food-safety procedures, sanitation, and teamwork in a fast-paced, family-owned environment. Physical work is required, including standing, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working near warm equipment.

Qualifications

• Dependable attendance and on-time arrival for shifts.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow recipes, batch sheets, labels, and instructions.
• Basic math skills for weighing, measuring, counting, and recording.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to follow procedures exactly.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a production team.
• Maintain a clean, organized, sanitary work area.
• Follow workplace safety and food-safety requirements.
• Experience in kitchen, food-production, manufacturing, packaging, or warehouse helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare ingredients according to recipes and production instructions.
• Accurately weigh and measure liquids, spices, powders, and other ingredients.
• Assist with mixing, cooking, and processing sauces, salsas, condiments, and spice blends.
• Safely operate production equipment after training.
• Fill bottles, jars, and containers according to procedures.
• Apply labels and codes on products.
• Inspect finished products for fill level, container integrity, and labeling.
• Pack finished products for storage or shipment.
• Record production data and maintain batch records.
• Follow GMPs, SOPs, and allergen-controls.
• Assist with receiving ingredients and rotating inventory.
• Report equipment issues or safety hazards immediately.

Skills

Dependable attendance

Reading recipes

Basic math

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Sanitation

Safety procedures

Workplace safety

Tools

Steam-jacketed kettles

Mixers

Pumps

Filling equipment

Scales

Job description

This is a hands-on position in a fast-paced commercial kitchen and food-manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate is reliable, detail-oriented, comfortable performing physical work, and committed to producing safe, consistent, high-quality products.

Position Summary

The Kitchen / Production Employee assists with all stages of food production, including ingredient preparation, weighing and measuring, cooking, filling containers, labeling, packaging, cleaning, and maintaining production records.

Employees must carefully follow recipes, batch instructions, food-safety procedures, and company policies. Accuracy, cleanliness, teamwork, and dependable attendance are essential.

Responsibilities

• Prepare ingredients according to approved recipes and production instructions.
• Accurately weigh and measure liquids, spices, powders, and other ingredients.
• Assist with mixing, cooking, and processing sauces, salsas, condiments, and spice blends.
• Safely operate steam-jacketed kettles, mixers, pumps, filling equipment, scales, and other production tools after training.
• Fill bottles, jars, jugs, and other containers according to established procedures.
• Apply labels, date codes, lot codes, caps, and tamper-evident seals.
• Inspect finished products for proper fill level, container integrity, label placement, and overall quality.
• Pack finished products into cases and prepare them for storage or shipment.
• Follow allergen-control, sanitation, traceability, and cross-contamination-prevention procedures.
• Record ingredient lot numbers, batch information, temperatures, pH readings, yields, and other required production information.
• Clean and sanitize kettles, utensils, production equipment, tables, floors, and work areas.
• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices, standard operating procedures, and all applicable food-safety requirements.
• Assist with receiving ingredients and packaging materials and rotating inventory using first-in, first-out procedures.
• Report damaged equipment, product-quality concerns, incorrect ingredients, safety hazards, or production errors immediately.
• Assist in other production, packaging, warehouse, or cleaning duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Dependable attendance and the ability to arrive on time for scheduled shifts.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow recipes, batch sheets, labels, and written instructions.
• Basic math skills, including weighing, measuring, counting, and recording quantities.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to follow procedures exactly.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a production team.
• Ability to maintain a clean, organized, and sanitary work area.
• Willingness to work around food ingredients, spices, vinegar, strong aromas, heat, steam, and production noise.
• Ability to follow workplace safety and food-safety requirements.
• Previous commercial kitchen, food-production, manufacturing, packaging, or warehouse experience is helpful but not required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for most of the shift.
• Ability to regularly lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to bend, reach, push, pull, twist, and perform repetitive tasks.
• Ability to work in a warm production environment near cooking kettles and hot-fill equipment.
• Ability to wear required protective equipment, including hair restraints, beard restraints when applicable, gloves, aprons, and slip-resistant footwear.
• Ability to safely handle ingredients, cases, containers, utensils, and production equipment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Food-Safety and Workplace Expectations

All employees are expected to:

• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices and company sanitation procedures.
• Wash hands and wear required protective equipment.
• Follow allergen and cross-contact controls.
• Accurately complete production and traceability records.
• Keep personal belongings, food, drinks, and prohibited items out of production areas.
• Report illness, injury, contamination concerns, and unsafe conditions immediately.
• Maintain professional and respectful conduct with coworkers, customers, vendors, and visitors.
• Protect confidential customer recipes, formulas, processes, and business information.

What We Offer

• On-the-job training.
• Consistent daytime production schedule.
• Opportunities to learn commercial food manufacturing and co-packing operations.
• Supportive, team-oriented, family-owned workplace.
• Employee product discounts.

Flavor and Fire is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, business needs, and applicable law.