Kettle Room Associate - Assistant Cook

The Assistant Cook supports the kettle room team by assisting with the setup, ingredient preparation, and general operation of the cook process at Naturpak®. This role works directly alongside the Cook and Controller to ensure that all prebatching, ingredient handling, equipment setup, and sanitation activities are completed accurately and in a timely manner, allowing production to run smoothly and on schedule.

Key Responsibilities

●Gather, weigh, and stage ingredients for the Cook before and during each cook.

●Prebatch ingredients according to recipe, allergen, and GMP requirements.

●Support equipment setup and preoperational checks at the start of each run.

●Assemble and disassemble kettle room equipment for cleaning and sanitation, including CIP.

●Keep the kettle room clean and organized throughout the shift.

●Communicate with the Cook, Controller, and Production Supervisor on ingredients and production needs.

●Follow all food safety, allergen control, and safety procedures, including required PPE.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a food manufacturing production environment in the kettle room. The Assistant Cook is regularly exposed to heat, steam, hot liquids, moving equipment, and varying temperatures throughout the shift. Strict adherence to all GMP, food safety, sanitation, allergen control, and workplace safety requirements is mandatory at all times.

Qualifications

●Prior experience in a food manufacturing, kitchen, or production support role is preferred; training will be provided.

●Ability to read and follow recipes, batch records, and written or verbal instructions accurately.

●Basic mathematical ability for measuring, weighing, and verifying ingredient quantities.

●Understanding of food safety, GMP, and allergen control principles; HACCP awareness is a plus.

●Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, consistent ingredient preparations.

●Ability to work as part of a team and respond effectively to direction from the Cook, Controller, and Production Supervisor.

●Reliable attendance and punctuality; flexibility to work overtime as production needs require.

Physical Requirements

●Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the kettle room and production floor for the entire duration of the shift.

●Ability to frequently lift, carry, and handle ingredient bags, totes, and containers weighing up to 50 lbs or more.

●Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and kneel as required by ingredient handling, equipment assembly, and sanitation tasks.

●Ability to work in areas with heat, steam, moisture, and hot liquids associated with kettle operations.

●Ability to wear all required PPE, including gloves, hairnets, and safety footwear, for the full duration of the shift.