Lead Production Associate

Job Title: Lead Production Associate

Reports to: Kitchen Production Manager

Location: Del Mar, CA

Company: JustFoodForDogs, LLC

Job Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt

Job Summary

At JustFoodForDogs, we’re dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives through the power of fresh, whole food. We’re looking for passionate and driven Lead Production Associates to help bring that mission to life in our open-to-the-public kitchens. Our ideal Lead Production Associate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and sets the standard for food safety, quality, and efficiency. You’ll guide and support our kitchen team including cooks, mixers, packagers, and rovers, while ensuring every batch is prepared with care and precision. Strong organization, time-management, and leadership skills are a must, along with a genuine love for pets and real food. If you’re ready to lead with heart and help us feed more dogs and cats the food they deserve, apply today and join the pack!

Key Responsibilities

• Effectively manage workflow to achieve goals in a timely manner
• Work with General Manager and Assistant General Manager to develop staff schedules
• Leads by exemplifying team management, setting and meeting goals, and problem solving
• Ensure proper food preparation and maintain critical control points, including monitoring and correcting food temperatures as needed
• Works shifts in the cooking and packaging departments to execute daily production
  • Cooks: Responsible for preparing and cooking human grade pet food in small batches to ensure the highest safety and quality
  • Mixers: Complete recipes by adding oils, nutrients, and operating mixer to ensure evenly distributed ingredients; weigh and transfer finished product for packaging
  • Packagers: Ensure packages are accurately labeled, weighed and sealed; operate and maintain sealers to highest standards; fulfill requested quantities and transfer to freezer
  • Rovers: Prepare production and transfer documents, labels, move finished products to process supply deliveries
• Assists with clean-up during and at end of shift
• Comply with sanitation regulations and safety standards
• Maintain a positive and professional approach with coworkers and customers

Competencies and Qualifications

• Team leadership experience and skills
• Kitchen experience
• Ability to multitask
• Attention to detail; ability to conduct repetitive tasks with quality
• General understanding of basic kitchen functions, various cooking methods, ingredients, equipment and procedures
• Accuracy and speed in executing assigned tasks
• Organizational skills
• ServSafe certification preferred

JUSTFOODFORDOGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

JUSTFOODFORDOGS does not discriminate due to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, unemployment status or any other legally protected basis, and to the extent permitted by law.