Job Description

Lassonde Pappas & Co. is a US Leader in beverage manufacturing dedicated to our team members, customers and consumers satisfaction. We remain committed to our small-town roots and rural values. Hardworking and caring are qualities that make our teams special. Since 1942, we’ve been producing delicious products for our customers across the country!

To provide the best for our customers, we focus on building the best team by creating and advancing an inclusive environment amongst our diverse workforce. If you’re passionate about customer satisfaction, reliable, and committed to being and doing better, join us! 

We value each of our employee’s total wellbeing. To support employees in all stages of their wellness journey, we have a robust benefits program including: medical, dental, and vision coverage options, growth and development potential, along with 401-K, Life & Disability Insurance, PTO, Tuition Reimbursement, Health Fairs, Gym Membership Discounts, and so much more!

POSITION SUMMARY

The Blending Production Lead reports to the Production Supervisor and is based out of our Hendersonville, North Carolina location. This individual will be responsible for leading and directing the entire batching operation on one shift to include staffing and training, productivity, quality, safety, and resolving errors in relation to batches as it pertains to that area.   This position has food safety and food quality responsibilities, including CQP and CCP monitoring.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (essential functions of the job) 
 Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Responsibilities include:

• Read and follow blending guidelines as set forth on a formula sheet to adhere to company and customer specifications  
• Match color and flavor and other quality attributes of juice to control standard, weigh and pump ingredients for batch, open drums, and containers for blending in batch
• Direct batchers on the flow of work and communicate with production on any issues with batches.  
• Assist in resolving all errors related to batches
• Perform quality checks before releasing batch for production such as brix, acid, pH, sensory, and color.  Adjust batches to meet specification
• Use the computer touch screen to fill batch tanks with bulk ingredients, research inventory needs, and make batch corrections
• Use hand-held scanners to batch formulas
• Perform and direct blenders on the sanitation of tanks and rooms
• Review the next day’s production schedule, plan out the staging of ingredients, and concentrate on upcoming batches
• Direct stagers on planned production and communicate ingredient outages to Supply Chain
• Assist in determining staffing needs and staffing changes
• Train new employees that are hired in the work area assigned
• Advanced knowledge of the field
• Lead by example and assist others who may need guidance
• Be accessible for employees to ask questions regarding areas of expertise 
• Provide positive recognition to employees who exhibit good behavior in their work area
• Provide feedback to managers on individual and team performance
• Accountable for food safety, food quality, and regulatory requirements for their position 
• Encouraged to notify management about actual or potential food safety issues
• Adopt and maintain all SQF requirements for their position
• Empowerment to work with supervision to resolve food safety and food quality issues within their scope of work
• Accountable for food safety, food quality, and regulatory requirements for their position 
• Encouraged to notify management about actual or potential food safety issues
• Adopt and maintain all SQF requirements for their position
• Empowerment to work with supervision to resolve food safety and food quality issues within their scope of work
• This role will be required to taste test products as needed, up to a couple of ounces per test.
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Forklift certification
• Six months of manufacturing experience
• Proficient in mathematics

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the food/beverage industry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Detail oriented; ability to multi-task
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work in a team setting
• Credibility and Integrity
• Build and maintain professional relationships
• Computer and hand-held scanner experience
• Ability to train others as needed

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires sufficient physical ability to work in a typical office setting; able to lift 50+ lbs., drive a motor vehicle and occasionally work in the field.

FREQUENT:  sitting, upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity and light to moderate finger pressure to include extended periods of keyboard and mouse use, side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending and stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials.

OCCASIONAL:  squatting, kneeling, reach above and at shoulder height, moderate grasp to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 50 pounds from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

VISION:  Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction.

HEARING:  Ability to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of the responsibilities that are required to successfully perform in this position.  Other duties as assigned are part of every job description.   The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential job functions.

Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.