Production Assistant

Production Assistant

Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

Overview

Salary Range $22.00 - $22.00 Hourly Level Management Position Type Full Time Job Shift Any Travel Percentage None Category Production Operations

Description

We grow and sell the world's BEST Strawberries & our production team is a major reason why

As a Production Assistant, you'll play a key role in ensuring Oishii's farm, pack, and shipping operations run efficiently while maintaining our world-class product quality. This is a supervisory position. This role is critical to keeping our farms running efficiently and our plants thriving. You'll work closely with team members across departments to keep our daily operations organized, productive, and on schedule.

You will support supply management, propagation, and integrated pest management (IPM) activities while working collaboratively with shift managers and the rest of the hourly team.

What you'll be responsible for:

• Refill and restock supplies at farm and pack stations daily. Monitor and anticipate supply and material needs, proactively replenishing stations to prevent workflow interruptions, escalate shortages, and train operators on locating essential materials.
• Ensure workstation setup, end of shift cleaning, and pack room sanitation meet required standards. Maintain a clean and organized workspace in compliance with safety and food safety guidelines.
• Prepare materials for outgoing shipments. Support shipping prep, palletizing, loading, berry transfer, and related operational workflows.
• Refill and prepare fertilizers and beneficial nematodes as needed.
• Transfer berry racks from farm to pack and move finished product from pack to CSR.
• Conduct and assist with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tasks, including replacing and collecting beneficial insects.
• Support plant transfer, propagation, and overall plant health processes in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Understand all SOPs and effectively coach team members through clear communication and demonstration.
• Train and mentor new hires, and retain existing team members to ensure adherence to procedures and top-quality outcomes. Escalate training or performance concerns to leadership to ensure quality and productivity standards are met. Conduct daily checks on new and in training operators and report progress to managers. Provide assessments, feedback, and accurate documentation to Shift Managers, AGM and General Manager as requested.
• Stay current on training materials and assist with updates and formal training sessions (safety, sanitation, orientation). Assist with training, cross training, and auditing tasks to maintain safe, standardized operations.
• Collaborate with shift managers to identify opportunities for process improvement.
• Maintain and communicate strong expertise in quality standards, packing procedures, labeling, berry handling, and SKU requirements.

Qualifications

Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii.

• One Team, One Fight!
  • Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose at various levels of the organization.
  • Ability to work cross functionally at all levels including across locations, and collaborate with a focus on supporting & understanding the evolving business needs of a startup environment.
  • Ability to lead through others and develop teams with a diverse level of experience to succeed.
• Focus
  • Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment in the absence of process or policy. We are building it, but need to manage through the process with good judgment and a bias for action.
  • Ability to synthesize information quickly to aid in the troubleshooting process.
• GSD (Get Sh** Done!)
  • Possessing an entrepreneurial mindset with the tenacity to develop ideas, process, and policy and implement them rapidly.
  • Capable of prioritizing tasks and considering the resources available when doing so.
  • A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes.
  • Track record of effectively handling complex employee relations issues, and addressing sensitive information and difficult situations with tact, discretion, and confidentiality.

What we look for in a Production Assistant:

• High School Diploma or GED;
• 1-3 years of experience in a production, farming, manufacturing, or warehouse environment, preferably in the food or beverage industry.
• 1-3 years of experience working on a quality control or quality assurance team.
• Proficiency with using technology such as Microsoft Teams, Google Suite, Slack, Asana, etc.

Additional Details:

• Open to and willing to work nonstandard hours such as weekends, evenings, and early mornings will all be part of your regular schedule.
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs
• Ability to climb a ladder
• Ability to crouch or kneel
• Ability to reach and stretch
• Hand dexterity
• Comfortable in an active non-sedentary role for an extended period of time
• Comfortable working in cold storage or temperature-controlled areas for extended periods
• MUST NOT be allergic to bees

Perks at Oishii:

• Compensation: $22.00/hour
• Medical, dental, vision, 401(K)
• 100% Employer Paid Life Insurance + Long Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Parental leave, Paid Time Off, Paid Sick Time
• Paid Training
• Office social events including happy hours, events, and parties
• Employee activity groups for basketball players, Yoga Enthusiasts, runners

About Us:

Oishii (which means "delicious" in Japanese) is the innovative company behind the world's largest indoor vertical strawberry farm. On a mission to transform the agriculture industry through the power of smart farming, Oishii harmoniously marries nature with state-of-the-art technology to create the ideal elementsrain, air, heat, light, nourishment and natural bee pollinationfor growing in-season produce all year round. Oishii's beloved Omakase, Koyo and Nikko Berries are grown in pesticide-free vertical farms in the U.S. and proudly bear the Non-GMO Project Verified seal. Founded in 2016, Oishii's investors include SPARX Group, NTT, Yaskawa, McWin Capital Partners and Resilience Reserve. Oishii was recognized as one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" in 2022.

Today, Oishii operates farms and research facilities across the United States and Japan, bringing together expertise from both countries to advance the future of agriculture. As a Japanese-founded company with global ambitions, we are building a world-class team dedicated to transforming how premium produce is grown and delivered. For more information, visit