Job details

Culinary Lead

About the Role:

Reporting to the Culinary Supervisor, the Culinary Lead is responsible for leading a team of Culinary Associates on the production floor. Culinary Leads ensure the production function is performed satisfactorily on the Kitchen floor in collaboration with leadership.

How you'll make a difference:

Support Culinary Leadership in overseeing the production process on the kitchen floor, including, but not limited to, production execution, Quality Control/Quality Assurance, and time tracking
Ensure employees follow GMPs, ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to policy
Maintain working knowledge of and assist with implementation of new and existing SOPs and policies across production teams; ensure processes and policies are adhered to at all times
Ensure that Meal Components are properly labeled with the correct amount, date, and meal code
Identify and communicate all shorts including, but not limited to, bin weights, components, meal count shorts, etc.
Properly update and communicate on Slack and other necessary methods such as the call-out line, phones, meetings, etc.

Safety & OSHA Compliance:

Attend consistent safety meetings, keeping track of policy changes and rollouts
Support leadership in ensuring OSHA compliance standards are adhered to at all times by staff
Support leadership with internal QA Audits initiatives

Who you are:

High school diploma required
2+ years experience in a large-scale, high-volume kitchen required
Food safety and sanitation experience highly preferred
Relevant food manufacturing and production experience preferred
Valid CA Food Handlers Certification(must be obtained within 30 days of hire)
Master in executing food prep production tasks with minimal / no supervision and guidance
Master in reading and executing recipes accurately
Strong proficiency in operating all commercial cooking equipment
Strong leadership skills in leading team members on the floor to hit throughput targets and efficiency goals
Strong communication skills that put compliance first

Physical Requirements:

Prolonged periods of standing, bending, and walking throughout the facility
Ability to consistently life up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds

$24 - $28 an hour

The starting hourly rate for this position is $24.00 out of the pay band range of $24.00 to $28.oo and represents the company's good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of the posting.

Get to Know Thistle

Thistle was founded in 2013 with a mission to make it easy to get and stay healthy while improving the sustainability of our food system. We deliver delicious, ready-to-eat plant-forward meals, snacks, and cold press juices to our customers’ doorsteps to empower our customers to improve personal and planetary health by eating more plants. To date we’ve delivered over 20 million nourishing meals to customers across the West and East Coast and we’re just getting started! The San Francisco Business Times named us one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area in 2023. Inc. awarded us Best in Business in 2022 among companies that “go above and beyond” in both food and sustainability sectors, and recognized us in the 2024 Inc. Regionals list of the fastest-growing companies in America by region.

We are mission-driven and share a growth mindset. Our values guide our approach to crafting our healthy products, solving problems, and working collaboratively. As a Thistler, you'll help transform the health of people and the planet by living our core values every day.

Be Human: We’re always willing to learn and aim to empower the people around us.

Think Bigger: We’re here to do more today than we did yesterday, and we figure it out together.

Build the Future: We tackle every day with the positive attitude of someone who can see the future and knows how bright it is.

Make a Lot with a Little: We get creative and look for ways our resources can take us as far as possible.

Lead with Purpose: Our mission guides our decisions and gives our work meaning.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential values at Thistle. We know we do our best and most impactful work when we feel we are represented and belong. We're proud to actively recruit and hire talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Average salary estimate

$54080 / YEARLY (est.)

min

max

$49920K

$58240K

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What You Should Know About Culinary Lead, Thistle

At Thistle, we’re on a mission to transform the way our customers eat by providing delicious, ready-to-eat plant-forward meals—ready to bring some culinary magic to our team as a Culinary Lead in Vacaville, CA! Reporting to the Culinary Supervisor, you’ll lead a team of Culinary Associates on the production floor. This role isn’t just about overseeing the culinary magic; it’s about driving collaboration, ensuring the production process runs like a well-oiled machine, and upholding our high standards of quality. Your responsibilities will include supporting culinary leadership with production execution and maintaining quality control, all while making sure we’re adhering to safety and compliance standards. If you’ve got a passion for food safety and sanitation and at least two years of experience in a high-volume kitchen, we’d love to have you on board! You’ll be a vital part of our mission by properly labeling meal components, communicating effectively about production status, and participating in safety meetings. Beyond your culinary skills, we value strong leadership, effective communication, and a passion for making an impact on both personal wellness and environmental sustainability. With competitive pay rates ranging from $24 to $28 per hour and incredible growth opportunities, your journey at Thistle begins here—where your leadership can make a real difference. Join us and help shape the future of food today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Culinary Lead Role at Thistle

What are the responsibilities of a Culinary Lead at Thistle in Vacaville, CA?

As a Culinary Lead at Thistle in Vacaville, CA, you’ll oversee the production process on the kitchen floor, ensuring that all culinary production tasks are executed flawlessly. You will support the Culinary Supervisor, manage a team of Culinary Associates, adhere to quality control measures, and communicate effectively across teams to maintain safety and compliance standards.