About the Role
The Smokehouse Cook Operator is responsible for operating and monitoring smokehouse and cooking equipment in a meat processing facility. This position ensures meat products are cooked, smoked, and processed according to established recipes, production schedules, food-safety requirements, and quality standards in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
- Operate smokehouse ovens, cookers, smokers, and related processing equipment safely and efficiently.
- Load and unload meat products into smokehouse, racks, or other equipment according to production requirements.
- Follow approved cooking and smoking recipes, including temperature, humidity, time, and smoke requirements.
- Monitor product and equipment temperatures throughout the cooking process.
- Make necessary adjustments to cooking programs and equipment settings to achieve required product specifications.
- Verify that products meet required internal temperatures and cooking requirements before release to the next production stage.
- Monitor smokehouse equipment for proper operation and report mechanical problems or abnormalities to maintenance or supervision.
- Maintain accurate production, cooking, temperature, and quality-control records.
- Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP procedures, sanitation requirements, and all applicable food-safety regulations.
- Perform routine cleaning and sanitation of smokehouse equipment and surrounding work areas as required.
- Inspect products for proper appearance, color, texture, weight, and overall quality.
- Follow company procedures for handling raw and cooked meat to prevent cross-contamination.
- Wear and maintain required personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Follow all workplace health and safety procedures, including lockout/tagout requirements where applicable.
- Communicate production issues, equipment concerns, quality problems, and food-safety concerns to the supervisor.
- Assist with other production duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Previous experience in a meat processing, food manufacturing, smokehouse, cooking, or production environment is preferred.
- Experience operating industrial cooking or smoking equipment is an asset.
- Knowledge of food-safety practices, HACCP, GMPs, and sanitation procedures is an asset.
- Ability to read and follow recipes, production instructions, and equipment controls.
- Basic math and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, temperature-controlled food-processing environment.
- Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive physical tasks.
- Ability to lift, push, pull, and move product and equipment as required.
- Ability to operate motorized equipment (i.e. tow motor).
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to product quality and food safety.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a production team.
Work Type
- Full-Time
- Production
Salary/Compensations
- Starting Wage Rate: $20.32 per hour.
- Six Months Wage Rate: $22.86 per hour.
- Full Rate at 12 months: $25.40 per hour.
- Shift Premium: $0.60 per hour.
About the Company
- Sofina Foods Inc. is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). Applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements, for the purpose of accommodation under AODA, known to Human Resources when they are contacted for an interview.
