Processing Associate Team Leader, Junior Kitchen

Whole Foods Market; Upper Marlboro (MD); On-site; USD 39,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Whole Benefits

Store discount

Job summary

Whole Foods Market seeks a Processing Associate Team Leader (ATL) in Upper Marlboro, MD to assist the Production Team Leader in supervising Machine Operators, Production Expeditors, and Production Cooks, while guiding daily operations and ensuring targets and safety standards are met.

This role emphasizes regulatory compliance (OSHA, USDA, FSMA), quality control, data review, cross‑functional collaboration, and people development, including interviewing and coaching team members to build a

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 18+ months of food production facility experience and 6+ months of supervisory experience.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, safety programs, and OSHA.
• Intermediate computer skills and ability to learn custom applications.
• Understanding of ERP processes in a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work with others, self-motivated, and capable of working independently.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Support the Production Team Leader to manage daily production operations.
• Assist with task assignment, guidance, and meeting production targets safely.
• Assist leadership in safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental programs.
• Analyze production and labor reports to meet targets.
• Monitor quality and efficiency of production output.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize flows.
• Interview, train, and develop Team Members to build a high‑performing team.
• Maintain safety and security standards and document investigations as needed.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Food production

Microsoft Office

ERP familiarity

Regulatory compliance

Education

BA/BS degree or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Processing Associate Team Leader (ATL) supports the Production Team Leader in supervising the Machine Operators, Production Expeditors, and Production Cooks at the metro food production facility.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Production Team Leader to lead the daily operations of the production team, including assigning tasks, providing guidance, and ensuring all production targets are met and safety protocols are followed.
• Assist production leadership in ensuring a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) manufacturing facility production team operates safely and in compliance with regulatory and corporate safety and environmental programs standards and goals.
• Assist Production Team Leader with analyzing production reports, inventory management reports, and labor for meeting all targets.
• Monitor production output to ensure adherence to quality standards and efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize production and processing flows.
• Assist with interviewing, selecting, training, developing, and counseling Team Members in a way that builds and sustains a high-performing team and minimizes turnover.
• Work collaboratively with Production Team Leader and Team Member Services on Team Member relations including proper documentation, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Communicate and maintain Team Member safety and security standards.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of, and ensure compliance with, relevant regulatory rules and standards, including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), USDA, State Department of Agriculture, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Department of Labor, Health and Sanitation regulations, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Weights and Measures.
• Establish and maintain collaborative and productive working relationships with Store Support teams and Operational Areas supported by Facility Leadership.
• Work with Production Team Leader to resolve team concerns or issues.
• Foster a positive work environment of outstanding teamwork and mutual respect.
  

Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree ORequivalent combination ofeducation and relevantexperience.
• 18+ months of food production facility experience and 6+ months of supervisory experience in the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chain management, environmental health and safety, and OSHA.
• Intermediate computer skills; proficiency in select Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); and ability to learn custom applications.
• Basic understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) processes within a food manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of financials and Profit & Loss (P&L) statements.
• Ability to work well with others, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with little supervision.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on the needs of the facility, including nights, weekends and holidays as required.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with key stakeholders, including Team Members, customers, suppliers, and regulators.
• A genuine passion for food and a deep commitment to our purpose to nourish people and the planet.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions:

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• Must adhere to company dress code and standards of production kitchen dress and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.
• Hand use: single grasping, fine manipulation, pushing, and pulling.
• Work requires the following motions: bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching.
• Exposure to FDA-approved cleaning chemicals.
• Exposure to temperatures: <32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing), 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit (refrigerators), >90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Ability to work in wet and dry conditions.
• May require the use of ladders.

The wage range for this position is $28.26-$45.50 Hourly, commensurate with experience. Whole Foods Market offers "Whole Benefits". Whole Benefits offers a wide range of benefits for Full and Part-Time Team Members, including eligibility for a store discount, paid time off, financial wellness, health & wellness support programs, and access to other Team Member perks. Eligibility for Whole Benefits is determined under the terms of the applicable Whole Benefits plan at a person’s date of hire and may vary based on work location, length of service, and job type (such as regular or seasonal).

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.