Food Production Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Food for Thought | Traverse City, MI

$20–$22 per hour | Day Shift | Four 10-Hour Days | Three-Day Weekends Most Weeks

Looking for a weekday schedule with Fridays off most weeks? Want to work in a clean food manufacturing environment with great coworkers?

Food for Thought is looking for a Food Production Associate to join our specialty food manufacturing team in Traverse City.

Our team works four 10-hour day shifts Monday through Thursday , giving you regularly scheduled three-day weekends. Fridays are typically off, although occasional overtime or Friday work may be needed to support production schedules and customer demand.

This is a food manufacturing position, not a restaurant kitchen. As a Food Production Associate, you'll support our production room: preparing ingredients, supporting cooking and batch production, packaging finished products, cleaning equipment, organizing materials, and working alongside a small team to produce specialty food products enjoyed across the country.

In our small manufacturing operation, everyone pitches in. You'll have the opportunity to learn many aspects of food production while working with a team that values quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• $20–$22 per hour, depending on experience
• Consistent day shift schedule
• Four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday
• Fridays off most weeks
• Clean, organized food manufacturing environment
• Great coworkers who support one another
• Opportunity to learn multiple aspects of food manufacturing
• Stable, year-round employment

What You'll Do

• Prepare, measure, weigh, and organize ingredients for production.
• Support cooking, mixing, batching, and recipe preparation.
• Package finished products and assist with production line activities.
• Set up, operate, clean, and maintain production equipment.
• Move materials and ingredients throughout the production process.
• Complete production records accurately and in real time.
• Follow food safety, sanitation, and quality standards.
• Help with cleaning, organization, and end-of-day production readiness.
• Work closely with team members to meet daily production goals.
• Pitch in wherever needed to help the team succeed.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in food manufacturing, food processing, commercial kitchens, warehousing, production, agriculture, or another hands-on work environment is preferred but not required.
• Ability to follow recipes, procedures, and work instructions accurately.
• Basic math skills for measuring and weighing ingredients.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to food safety.
• Dependable attendance and a positive, team-first attitude.
• Enjoys staying active and working in a hands-on environment.
• Willingness to learn new skills and support different production activities.
• Better Process Control School (BPCS) certification is preferred or the ability to obtain certification.

About Food for Thought

Food for Thought produces specialty food products with a focus on quality, sustainability, and responsible sourcing. As part of Tamarack Holdings, we're proud to manufacture products enjoyed by customers throughout the United States.

Where We're Located

Our production facility is located at the Long Lake Culinary Campus, in the former Long Lake Elementary School just west of Traverse City near Moomers Homemade Ice Cream and Fresh Coast Market.

If you're looking for a hands-on career with a consistent schedule, a supportive team, and the opportunity to learn many aspects of food manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today or visit our Careers page to learn more: