Sr. Cooking Process Operator (1st/2nd/3rd Shifts)

Job Description About Us: Cibo Vita is a leading innovator in the wellness and nutrition sector, dedicated to enhancing lives through premium, health‑conscious products. We compete in a range of snacking and confection categories, including fruit snacks, dried fruit, snack nuts, and trail mixes. Our diverse portfolio includes several owned brands and a robust private‑label business, supporting top‑tier retail partners across the U.S. Position Summary: Experienced Senior Operators to manage and monitor continuous cooking processes operating under high temperature and vacuum conditions in a food manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate should have strong process awareness, mechanical aptitude, and the ability to troubleshoot equipment while maintaining production, quality, and safety standards. Key Responsibilities Operate and monitor continuous cooking systems running under high temperature and vacuum conditions. Follow and control process parameters through HMI/SCADA screens and machine interfaces. Monitor alarms, process trends, temperatures, pressures, vacuum levels, flow rates, and cooking conditions. Perform routine process adjustments to maintain product consistency and efficiency. Troubleshoot process deviations, mechanical issues, and equipment alarms. Coordinate with Maintenance, Quality, and Production teams to minimize downtime. Conduct startup, shutdown, cleaning, and changeover activities safely and efficiently. Ensure compliance with food safety, GMP, HACCP, and company safety procedures. Support continuous improvement initiatives related to process optimization and equipment performance. Train and support junior operators when needed. Required Qualifications Minimum 5 years of experience operating industrial cooking or processing equipment in a food manufacturing environment. Experience with continuous cooking systems, vacuum cookers, kettles, thermal processing, or similar high‑temperature process equipment. Ability to understand and monitor process parameters through HMI/PLC systems. Strong mechanical troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills. Experience responding to machine alarms and process deviations independently. Good understanding of pumps, valves, piping systems, vacuum systems, heat transfer, and process flow. Ability to work in a fast‑paced production environment with minimal supervision. Knowledge of GMP, food safety, and workplace safety practices. Strong communication and teamwork skills. Preferred Qualifications Experience with vacuum cooking systems, fruit processing, confectionery, pectin‑based products, or thermal processing operations. Basic understanding of PLC‑controlled systems and industrial automation. Bilingual (English/Spanish). Leadership or senior operator experience preferred. Ideal Candidate Profile Process‑oriented and detail‑focused. Mechanically inclined with strong troubleshooting capability. Able to make quick operational decisions during process deviations. Comfortable working around hot surfaces, vacuum systems, pumps, and industrial processing equipment. Strong ownership mentality and accountability on the production floor. What do we offer Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits Life Insurance 401K PTO Company Paid Holidays Career advancement and training Cibo Vita is a CPG manufacturer located in Totowa, NJ, with a focus on high‑quality, innovative, “better for you” snacks. Cibo Vita primarily operates under its flagship brand, Nature’s Garden, which has a national presence. #J-18808-Ljbffr Cibo Vita