Overview
The Production Kitchen Lead Associate daily tasks include, but not limited to, procurement support, inventory control, receiving, storage, logistics, and production material coordination. This position helps ensure ingredients, packaging, supplies, and finished goods are accurately tracked, safely handled, properly stored, and available when needed. The Associate follows established food safety, sanitation, inventory, and equipment procedures under the direction of Central Kitchen Supervisors and Managers. Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisors and Managers to support daily operations.
Essential Duties:
Procurement & Inventory Support:
- Monitor ingredient, packaging, and supply levels; conduct routine inventory checks and follow FIFO stock rotation.
- Record inventory counts, usage, receiving information, and related data accurately; support basic production forecasts and purchasing plans as directed.
- Communicate shortages, overstock, expired items, and purchasing needs to the Supervisor or Manager; assist with procurement-related administrative tasks.
Receiving, Storage & Material Handling:
- Receive deliveries; compare quantities and items against packing slips; inspect for damage and report discrepancies.
- Label, date, organize, and store ingredients, packaging, and finished goods according to food safety and storage procedures.
- Move and stage pallets, bulk ingredients, supplies, and finished products using approved forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment when trained and authorized.
- Maintain organized dry, refrigerated, and frozen storage areas, docks, and material-handling spaces; segregate and report non-conforming materials.
Production Support & Coordination:
- Retrieve and stage ingredients and packaging according to daily production plans and instructions.
- Move raw, semi-finished, and finished goods among storage, production, freezing, and packing areas as directed.
- Coordinate with production team members on material availability and usage; promptly escalate potential shortages or delays.
- Verify that materials supplied to production meet labeling, quality, and food safety requirements.
- Lead Production Kitchen Associates by setting an example and assisting others when needed.
Safety, Compliance & Teamwork:
- Follow food safety, sanitation, temperature-control, workplace safety, and company standard operating procedures.
- Operate equipment safely in accordance with training, company policy, and applicable OSHA requirements.
- Perform assigned cleaning, safety, and quality checks; promptly report equipment, operational, safety, or quality concerns.
- Follow instructions from assigned Leads, Supervisors, and Managers; cooperate with production and logistics colleagues and participate in training.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by Management.
Qualifications:
- Previous experience in warehouse operations, logistics, commercial kitchens, or food production preferred.
- Basic understanding of inventory handling, food safety, sanitation, and temperature control preferred.
- Ability to follow instructions and standard operating procedures; strong teamwork, communication, organization, and time-management skills.
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and in hot, cold, refrigerated, and frozen areas.
- Forklift experience preferred; must complete required training and authorization before operating powered industrial trucks.
- Food safety certification preferred but not required.
Work Environment
This position works in kitchen, warehouse, receiving, and cold-storage environments, with potential exposure to hot equipment, sharp tools, forklifts, palletized loads, and refrigerated or frozen conditions.
Physical Demands:
Regular standing, walking, reaching, bending, communicating, and material handling are required; occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling may be required. Vision may require depth perception and focus adjustment for equipment operation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Essential Weight Lifting / Force Exertion Requirements (retained from source JDs; subject to HR validation): Less than 1/3 of time: up to 100 pounds; 1/3 to 2/3 of time: up to 50 pounds; more than 2/3 of time: up to 10 pounds. Use proper lifting techniques and appropriate handling equipment.
Ability to Commute: Anaheim, CA & Downey, CA 90241