Production Staff: Ovens

Kaizen Lab Inc.; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 16,531 - 24,796; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Sixteen Bricks is seeking oven bakers to join our production team. You will ensure breads are baked to spec, monitor proofing, and operate bakery equipment safely. This role emphasizes teamwork, attention to detail, and adherence to food-safety guidelines.

Non-exempt, hourly; benefits include insurance, PTO, and holidays. Candidates should have a high school diploma or equivalent and strong math and communication skills. Spanish language abilities are a plus in a diverse team environment.

Qualifications

• Passionate and knowledgeable about quality artisan bread.
• Committed to mission and customer service.
• Strong verbal communication; Spanish language a plus.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving to streamline operations.
• Ability to work in a team and stay accountable for duties.
• Time management and critical-thinking skills.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent preferred.
• Strong basic math skills.

Responsibilities

• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety guidelines.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and sanitary work area.
• Determine proofing readiness and adjust proofer to avoid over-proofing.
• Distribute loaves on loader for even baking.
• Accurately score and decorate all bread varieties as instructed.
• Bake breads with proper steam, temp, and time to meet quality specs.
• Record data such as times, temperatures, lot numbers, and environment.
• Communicate with team to maintain production schedule.
• Track wasted dough and report issues to mitigate safety/quality concerns.

Skills

Quality artisan bread

Team coordination

Time management

Problem solving

Spanish language (plus)

Education

High school diploma / GED

Job description

Position Overview & Responsibilities

Sixteen Bricks oven bakers are skilled and primarily responsible for determining when all shaped products are properly fermented/proofed and ready to bake, then ensure they are baked and finished to product specifications. Oven staff will utilize bakery equipment and machines in a safe manner and work as a team to think critically and recognize factors that affect the safety and quality of the dough while completing some of the following essential tasks:

• Always follow Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety guidelines
• Maintain an organized, clean, and sanitary work area
• Determine when both retarded and direct process breads are properly proofed and ready to be baked and adjust the retarder/proofer to avoid over-proofing when necessary
• Work efficiently to evenly distribute loaves on the loader to ensure even baking
• Accurately score and decorate all varieties of bread products as instructed
• Bake breads with sufficient steam, at the correct temperature, for the desired amount of time indicated to achieve the standard quality specifications (color, general appearance) for each product
• Consistently and accurately record all data necessary throughout each process such as times, temperatures, ingredient lot numbers, environmental information, etc.
• Effectively communicate with team members to maintain production schedule and team coordination (production and slicing/packaging teammates, sanitation, leadership staff)
• Track wasted dough/pieces accurately (raw dough, product that does not meet specification, etc.)
• Report and assist as instructed to proactively mitigate all issues and/or concerns regarding the quality and/or safety of the production environment, equipment, ingredients, doughs, products, or team members

Characteristics, Education, and Experience

The characteristics listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to be successful in production with Sixteen Bricks. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Passionate and knowledgeable about quality artisan bread
• Committed to our mission and providing excellent customer service
• Strong verbal communication and literacy skills required (Spanish language a plus)
• Demonstrated personal initiative and high-level problem-solving skills with an ability to organize and streamline operations
• Ability to work in a team environment and maintain accountability for assigned duties
• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks, possess time management and critical-thinking skills
• High school diploma, GED, or other equivalent preferred
• Strong basic math (counting, addition, subtraction, multiplying, dividing) skills needed

Physical Requirements

Work requires normal mental and visual attention/perception to correctly identify products/items along with manual coordination (safely operating bakery equipment/machinery, entering information on a tablet). Work is repetitive and not sedentary; the individual is frequently required to move (walk, squat, reach overhead, rotate, twist, bend, lift), and stand for varying periods of time and will often move (push, pull, lift, grasp, carry, drag, etc.) materials up to 50 pounds. Oven bakers must be able to tolerate working in a hot environment for many hours at a time.

Schedule, Wage, and Benefits

Sixteen Bricks production staff typically work five days a week during the early morning and afternoon hours. Employees will also be expected to attend meetings and complete training as needed during hours that are reasonable within their typical work schedule. Non-exempt; hourly wage ranges based on experience. Full-time hourly employees working 32 or more regular hours per week will qualify for benefits including insurance, paid time off, and paid holiday time. See the Sixteen Bricks Employee Handbook for more details about these benefits.