Central Production Cook

Food Production Specialist

$17.50 - $21.32 PER HOUR

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The purpose of this position is to prepare high-quality food products for Harmons' Central Production Facility. This position ensures consistency, safety, and efficiency in large-scale food production, supporting Harmons' commitment to excellence across all store locations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare and cook a variety of foods following Harmons' recipes and production schedules
• Operate industrial kitchen equipment such as tilting kettles, steamers, ovens, and mixers safely and efficiently
• Batch cook products to precise specifications to ensure consistency across all locations
• Adhere strictly to Harmons' Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Food Safety procedures
• Ensure proper cooking, cooling, storage, and labeling of finished products to maintain food safety standards
• Maintain clean and organized workstations in compliance with company and regulatory sanitation requirements
• Monitor cooking processes to ensure proper temperatures, textures, and flavor profiles
• Conduct taste tests and visual inspections to verify product quality
• Immediately report any quality deviations or equipment issues to supervisor
• Coordinate with Prep Cooks and other team members to maintain efficient production flow
• Communicate production needs and issues to the Quality Control team or Manager of Central Production
• Assist in cross-training cooks and prep cooks
• Complete cooking and cooling logs as required by Harmons' food safety standards
• Accurately record lot codes, requested yields, waste, and batch sizes for reporting and traceability
• Assists as needed to ensure the success of the facility as a whole

MARGINAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performs other job-related duties as assigned

NATURE OF WORK CONTACTS:

• Consistent and daily interaction with facility associates

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities:

A high school diploma or GED preferred; Culinary Certificate or Associate Degree in Culinary Arts or related field preferred; 13 years of experience in a commercial or institutional kitchen environment; or any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Basic math skills
• Current food handler's permit
• Prior experience in large-scale or batch cooking preferred
• Familiarity with central kitchen operations is a plus
• Knowledge of food production techniques and safe food handling practices
• Familiarity with food safety standards and GMPs
• Excellent organization and planning skills
• Must enjoy working with and handling fresh food products
• Basic ability to read and follow recipes
• Ability to interpret policies and procedures
• Must possess integrity, a positive attitude, be mission-driven, and be self-directed with a demonstrated passion for Harmons' mission and commitment to working collaboratively
• Continually strives to be product minded, customer minded, personnel minded, detailed, consistent, and forward focused
• Ability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays

PHYSICAL/SENSORY DEMANDS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is generally performed in a safe and comfortable store environment with the possibility of frequent exposure to hot, cold, slippery, and wet conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to grasp, climb, push, pull, carry, stoop, twist, crouch, bend, and reach; perform tasks requiring repetitive motion and eye, hand, and foot coordination. Also requires standing, walking, and bending throughout the entire workday and the ability to maneuver heavy objects weighing up to 50 pounds from location to location.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrate our employees' differences including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, and Veteran status. Diversity makes us better.