Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands likeLa Brea Bakery,Otis Spunkmeyer, andOakrun Farm Bakery. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers' expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.
Working under the Bakery Supervisor's guidance, the Starter Room Operator is accountable for precisely preparing white and organic starters according to established recipes. This includes carefully feeding the starter tanks, closely monitoring the fermentation and cooling processes to ensure they adhere to specified parameters, and managing the received mother starter quantity. The Operator also performs Cleaning in Place (CIP) procedures for starter tanks, dosing stations, and liquefiers. The goal is to create a homogeneous mixture of mother, flour, and water, achieving the desired characteristics for producing high-quality products that meet standards.
Responsibilities
- Feed white and organic starter mothers, and other required ingredients.
- Prepare and mix starter ingredients according to specified mixing times and temperatures.
- Continuously monitor and control starter mixing process temperatures.
- Visually and physically verify starter texture to ensure it meets target characteristics.
- Continuously monitor and control CIP chemical inventory.
- Accurately and promptly enter data into SAP.
- Verify the accurate functioning of weight scales.
- Accurately and promptly document mixing data.
- Maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of starter room equipment.
- Accurately identify and weigh mother batch containers as required.
- Maintain the starter rooms in a clean and organized condition.
- Lift and handle 50 lb. flour bags consistently for short periods.
- Monitor starter on the floor to ensure it does not exceed its use time.
- Ensure all starter mixing documents are completed at the end of the shift and filed appropriately.
- Adhere to GMPs and Health and Safety rules outlined in the employee handbook, including:
- Maintains a clean, organized, and safe working environment in assigned production areas and workstations.
- Immediately reporting any unsafe conditions, incidents, or injuries to a supervisor or lead hand.
- Using all required personal protective equipment.
- Adhere to and ensure compliance with food safety practices, including:
- Maintaining all tools in good repair and reporting any broken, damaged, or missing tools to a supervisor or lead hand (do not discard damaged tools).
- Following all GMPs, including maintaining personal hygiene, handwashing/sanitizing, and cleaning up spills (ingredients, water, debris, wood, etc.).
- Report any issues or deviations to supervisors, including immediately reporting any potential contamination or suspicious activity to line leadership.
- Reporting any unusual people or behaviors to a supervisor as a part of food security protocols.
- Additional tasks may be assigned as needed.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or GED
- Prior experience in a fast-paced production or packing environment is preferred.At least 6 months as an operator
- Ability to understand and follow recipe
- Ability to understand and operate starter mixing process controls and makes adjustment when necessary.
- Basic knowledge of starter mixing and operating mixing equipment
- Ability to comprehend scale and temperature readouts
- Ability to document starters mixing data accurately and timely
- Ability to write clearly and legibly and possess basic effective verbal and written skills in English.
- To perform this job successfully, an individual should have the ability to work with computers and operating screens and the ability to document data to properly report as required by the SAP system.
Shift: 1st Shift 6am-2:30pm ( Must be able to work weekends)
Benefits Designed with You in Mind
At Aspire Bakeries, we're committed to supporting your well-being, professional growth, and financial stability. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
Health & Wellness:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Company-paid life insurance
- Optional voluntary benefits
Work-Life Balance:
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off and holidays
Financial Security:
- Competitive 401(k) plan with a 100% vested company match
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
Continuous Growth:
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Flexible Spending:
- HSA and FSA options
Performance-Based Rewards:
We value your hard work and dedication. That's why we offer performance-driven incentive programs tailored to your role:
- Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP): Recognizing individual and team achievements.
- Sales Incentive Plan (SIP): Rewarding excellence in sales performance.
- Bakery Incentive Plan (BIP): Focused on achieving bakery-specific performance goals.
At Aspire Bakeries, we believe that when you succeed, we all succeed. Join us and experience benefits that truly work as hard as you do!
Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.