Food Processing Line Lead

CP Fresh is the fresh food processing and value-added division of Charlie's Produce, a well-established and rapidly growing company dedicated to delivering high-quality produce to retail and foodservice customers. Founded in 2016, CP Fresh specializes in producing healthy, fresh food items, including fresh cut fruits and vegetables, positioning itself as an innovative leader in the fresh food industry. The division is committed to advancing quality and safety standards while meeting the exacting demands of its diverse client base.

Charlie’s Produce itself is a privately owned wholesale produce company, recognized as the largest privately owned produce wholesaler on the West Coast. Known for valuing PEOPLE as the key to its success, Charlie’s Produce has cultivated a company culture that fosters loyalty, stability, innovation, and growth. Their focus remains on quality, which has been the foundation of their operations since inception. The company is passionate about food and supply chain excellence, and it actively seeks likeminded individuals who share these core values to join their team and further their mission to enhance communities through quality produce.

Within this exciting company environment, the Cook Chill Lead role is a vital position responsible for overseeing daily production activities within the Cook Chill Department. This is an onsite full-time role that demands regular attendance to ensure all prepared food products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and in compliance with company quality standards, regulatory requirements, and production schedules. The Cook Chill Lead provides hands-on leadership to production staff and plays an instrumental role in supporting continuous improvement initiatives. Maintaining a clean, safe, and compliant work environment is a critical component of this role.

The Cook Chill Lead manages critical operations such as batching, cooking, chilling, portioning, mixing, and packaging, along with planning and monitoring daily workflows to meet production goals. This leadership position entails assigning tasks, monitoring product quality and consistency according to recipes and specifications, troubleshooting production issues, and enforcing strict HACCP, GMPs, USDA, FDA, and other food safety regulations. The role also requires strong coordination and communication with supervisors, QA teams, and other departments to optimize production efficiency.

Further responsibilities include maintaining accurate documentation for quality checks, temperature logs, inventory control, and allergen information. The Cook Chill Lead also ensures proper equipment operation, trains new employees, motivates team members, and evaluates staff performance to build effective and diverse teams. As a leader who leads by example, the Cook Chill Lead must ensure workflow meets production schedules, products are safe and properly labeled, and that workplace safety is prioritized at all times.

Compensation for this role ranges from $27 to $29 per hour with potential performance-based raises after 90 days, as well as yearly reviews for possible increases based on performance and tenure. This role is ideal for candidates with food manufacturing experience, particularly in cook-chill or ready-to-eat environments, and who have a strong understanding of relevant food safety standards. The position offers numerous benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance promptly available upon hire, an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), 401(k), paid vacations and holidays, commuter benefits, onsite parking, state sick leave coverage, prepaid college tuition for employees and their dependents, and an employee assistance program (EAP).