Operator 2, Bakery-Production Starter

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands like La Brea Bakery, Otis Spunkmeyer, and Oakrun Farm Bakery. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers' expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

Working under the Bakery Supervisor's guidance, the Starter Room Operator is accountable for precisely preparing white and organic starters according to established recipes. This includes carefully feeding the starter tanks, closely monitoring the fermentation and cooling processes to ensure they adhere to specified parameters, and managing the received mother starter quantity. The Operator also performs Cleaning in Place (CIP) procedures for starter tanks, dosing stations, and liquefiers. The goal is to create a homogeneous mixture of mother, flour, and water, achieving the desired characteristics for producing high-quality products that meet standards.

Responsibilities:

• Feed white and organic starter mothers, and other required ingredients.
• Prepare and mix starter ingredients according to specified mixing times and temperatures.
• Continuously monitor and control starter mixing process temperatures.
• Visually and physically verify starter texture to ensure it meets target characteristics.
• Continuously monitor and control CIP chemical inventory.
• Accurately and promptly enter data into SAP.
• Verify the accurate functioning of weight scales.
• Accurately and promptly document mixing data.
• Maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of starter room equipment.
• Accurately identify and weigh mother batch containers as required.
• Maintain the starter rooms in a clean and organized condition.
• Lift and handle 50 lb. flour bags consistently for short periods.
• Monitor starter on the floor to ensure it does not exceed its use time.
• Ensure all starter mixing documents are completed at the end of the shift and filed appropriately.
• Adhere to GMPs and Health and Safety rules outlined in the employee handbook, including:
• Maintains a clean, organized, and safe working environment in assigned production areas and workstations.
• Immediately reporting any unsafe conditions, incidents, or injuries to a supervisor or lead hand.
• Using all required personal protective equipment.
• Adhere to and ensure compliance with food safety practices, including:
• Maintaining all tools in good repair and reporting any broken, damaged, or missing tools to a supervisor or lead hand (do not discard damaged tools).
• Following all GMPs, including maintaining personal hygiene, handwashing/sanitizing, and cleaning up spills (ingredients, water, debris, wood, etc.).
• Report any issues or deviations to supervisors, including immediately reporting any potential contamination or suspicious activity to line leadership.
• Reporting any unusual people or behaviors to a supervisor as a part of food security protocols.
• Additional tasks may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Prior experience in a fast-paced production or packing environment is preferred. At least 6 months as an operator
• Ability to understand and follow recipe
• Ability to understand and operate starter mixing process controls and makes adjustment when necessary
• Basic knowledge of starter mixing and operating mixing equipment
• Ability to comprehend scale and temperature readouts
• Ability to document starters mixing data accurately and timely
• Ability to write clearly and legibly and possess basic effective verbal and written skills in English
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have the ability to work with computers and operating screens and the ability to document data to properly report as required by the SAP system

Shift: 1st; 6am-2:30pm ( Must be able to work weekends)

Pay rate: $21 per hour

Aspire Bakeries LLC values the contribution each Team Member brings to our organization. The final determination of a successful candidate's starting pay will vary based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to location, shift, education, skill, and experience within the job or the industry. The pay scale listed for this position is generally for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed In this specific job description. Additional pay may be determined for those candidates that exceed these specified qualifications and requirements. We provide a competitive compensation package that recognizes your experience, credentials, and education alongside a robust benefits program to meet your needs. For union-represented postings, wage rates and ranges are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.