Farm Fresh Rhode Island seeks a dedicated and motivated professional with demonstrated initiative and a solid background in food service and/or manufacturing skills to launch and build a new food production facility for Farm Fresh RI’s Harvest Kitchen program. Harvest Kitchen at Farm Fresh RI (10 Sims Ave, Providence) is a food production facility focusing on high-quality shelf-stable jarred products, lightly processed vegetables, and a product line for area universities all utilizing locally sourced ingredients. This facility is an extension of Harvest Kitchen, a job-readiness training program for youth within the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) where the youth involved create a line of high-quality preserved foods using ingredients sourced from local farms, while building a stable foundation to maintain employment beyond their time with Harvest Kitchen. This position offers a unique opportunity to help develop private label recipes for area farmers and producers, open a brand new facility, and assist in the hiring process and training of new employees for this facility. Application deadline is March 24, 2023.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Refine and streamline the Harvest Kitchen product line to improve on batch yields and efficiency.
- Develop and document new recipes to be approved for production by Cornell University and the State of Rhode Island Department of Health.
- With the assistance of the Harvest Kitchen Program Director, develop HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points).
- Develop scheduled processes for non-shelf-stable processes, such as ROP (Reduced Oxygen Packaging) vegetables, refrigerated sauces, etc.
- Cultivate relationships with new and existing farmers and producers.
- Establish schedules to optimize capacity, support for farmers and producers, and efficiency of production.
- Perform extensive inventory management and documentation of production schedules.
- Properly document food safety practices and sanitation procedures.
- Manage small retail area utilized to sell Harvest Kitchen products.
- With the support of the Harvest Kitchen Program Director, manage production team members including: coaching, performance evaluation, onboarding, hiring, and recruiting.
- Act as a mentor for Harvest Kitchen trainees when interning at this facility.
- Supervise Harvest Kitchen Sims Ave Facility including monitoring equipment and daily sanitation practices.
- Weekly purchasing of materials and supplies to execute production goals in line with program budget.
- Support Harvest Kitchen Program Director in developing annual production goals and schedules.
- Support Harvest Kitchen Program Director and team members in refining Harvest Kitchen internship support services.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform this Role
- ServeSafe Food Safety Manager Certification required.
- Ability to obtain Acidified Foods Manufacturing Certification. (Farm Fresh RI will pay for this course.)
- Prior use of tilt skillets, steam kettles, combi ovens, and vacuum sealers.
- Great organization skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills needed to effectively convey information across other departments.
- Strong leadership abilities and ability to influence and inspire team members to do their best work.
- Must be comfortable operating with a strong level of professionalism.
- Self starter and ability to maintain a self-motivating attitude.
- Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team.
- Excellent time-management skills.
- Ability to think, react, iterate, and redirect in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and computer tasks.
- Bilingual or Multilingual skills, particularly Spanish speaking skills, desired.
- Previous work experience with sourcing local foods and/or a deep understanding of food safety, sanitation, and log-keeping and documentation desired.
Physical Demands (Physical, Mental, Environmental)
The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the company are available to address the following requirements.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand for long periods of time in a potentially hot or refrigerated environment; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls on computers and cooking equipment; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear in meetings and on the telephone or on the computer in an office or variable setting..
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Employees must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to travel, which may include travel via car, train, airline, overnight hotel stays.
Compensation
- This is considered a full-time benefit-eligible position, with a starting salary of $50,000 annually.
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holiday benefits.
- Monthly contributions to flexible health, dental, and life insurance plans.
- Annual professional development credit and opportunities.
- IRA Matching contribution after two years of employment.
How to Apply
- Please send your resume and cover letter to Attn: Sean Kontos at [email protected] with subject line “Harvest Kitchen Production Manager.”
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final application deadline is March 24, 2023.
- No phone calls or drop-ins please.
Organizational Info
Farm Fresh Rhode Island has grown briskly since achieving 501c3 status in 2007, to capture the public interest in locally grown food and translate it into sales for local and regional farmers and producers. Strongly mission-driven, Farm Fresh RI hosts a variety of programs to enhance the local food system, with particular attention to farm viability and low-income access to fresh food. Farm Fresh also operates a range of marketplace programs (retail, wholesale, processing) that engage and connect tens of thousands of eaters with thousands of farmers and food producers across the New England region.
Mission: Farm Fresh Rhode Island is growing a local food system that values the environment, health, and quality of life of farmers and eaters in our region.
Vision: A New England region abundant with diverse family farms and fertile soils, with locally and honestly produced foods at the heart of every table.
Farm Fresh’s work environment is fast paced and collaborative. We value creative thinking, approach our work with energetic spirit, and strive to have fun together while we’re at it!
Farm Fresh RI is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all employees. We encourage inquiries from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our organization. Farm Fresh RI does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, disability status or any other status protected under applicable local, state, or federal law. Farm Fresh Rhode Island is an Equal Opportunity Provider.