Chocolate Factory Assistant in San Francisco, California at Dandelion Chocolate

Job Title: Chocolate Factory Assistant

Hours: Part or full time (20-40 hours/week, weekends required)

Location: On-site, 16th Street Factory

Department: Chocolate Production - 16th Street

Report: Production Manager

Wage: hourly, non-exempt, starts at $25/hour

About Us
Dandelion Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate maker in San Francisco’s Mission District. We make chocolate from only two ingredients, cocoa beans and cane sugar, and travel to origins as often as we can to build good, trusting relationships with the producers who grow and ferment the beans. We’re always searching for flavorful, quality cocoa beans and now we’re seeking a positive, detail-oriented Factory Assistant who will ensure that the farmer and producer’s dedication, care, and attention is reflected in the high quality of our chocolate. We can’t do it without you -- the quality of our chocolate is a direct reflection of our seamless operations consisting of teamwork, learning, and a deep desire to continuously improve.

About the Job
Most days you spend your afternoon performing the final quality check and then hand-wrap finished chocolate bars in gold foil. Other days, you might start by prepping chocolate molds in the tempering room or feeding molds into the tempering line. You also can confidently make boxes and pack them with ground chocolate destined for pastry chefs and confectioners around the country. Every task you tackle is done to the highest quality. You’ll be working with a team of very passionate chocolate makers in a dynamic and unique environment. While there are always unexpected surprises (a machine breaks, a shipment of sugar is delayed), everyone goes home knowing that today we did good work and our chocolate continues to get better and better. This role has the potential to be full-time or part-time and starts at $25/hour.

About You

When working repetitive tasks you easily slip into a zen state of mind. You are eager to help the team, offering assistance where it is needed. You are self-motivated and feel great satisfaction with a spotless workspace where every item is in its place. Throughout the day, you work efficiently and with an eye for the quality standards necessary for the factory space. The team knows they can always rely on you to help them clean up a chocolate spill or give an extra hand when a task takes longer than expected. Above all, you are a team player with a passion for working with a quality product.

Responsibilities

• Follow food production environment protocols and guidelines – Follow food safety and hygiene best practices at all times, including wearing hair nets and gloves and washing hands frequently. Maintain compliance with facility standards, which prohibit piercings, jewelry (except a simple wedding band), and painted or acrylic fingernails. Adhere to safety SOPs, especially while operating equipment and reporting any potential equipment malfunctions so we can maintain a safe working environment.
• People and team skills – You have a positive attitude and people want to work with you again (and again and again). When visiting guests tour the factory, be a welcoming presence who is available to answer questions and offer hospitality.
• Foiling chocolate bars and packing chocolate – Work with our wrapping machine to foil and wrap chocolate bars, checking quality according to the team’s best practices to help reach each month’s goals. Weigh and pack ground chocolate into bags and boxes. Use our internal lot tracking system to correctly label products.
• Metal Detector & X-Ray Quality Control – Pass finished chocolate through X-ray and metal detector equipment to QC our chocolate and ensure foodsafe, quality products.
• Load molds into tempering line – Keep the tempering line supplied with chocolate molds. Check chocolate bars for quality defects such as wavy lines, poor temper, or chocolate flecks.
• Grind chocolate and sort beans – Each day we have our daily production goals we aim to reach. Help our teams reach those goals by loading chocolate blocks into chocolate grinder to create powdered mixtures and scooping beans into optical sorter and vibratory sorter.
• Cleaning, inventory, and organizing – Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free production area at all times, including thorough cleaning of chocolate-processing areas. Inventory and organize supplies at the end of each day to support efficient daily start-up. Wash dishes and tools using the industrial dishwasher. Ensure all cleaning and sanitizing solutions are properly stored.
• Receive deliveries – Assist team with receiving deliveries from the loading dock while keeping walkways clear and safe.
• Taste and evaluate chocolate samples – We taste chocolate nearly every day so our chocolate makers have the data they need to roast, conche, and refine chocolate. You don’t need to be a chocolate tasting expert – we will train you – but a good attitude and a willingness to offer your personal opinion is essential.
• Self-starter – Ask questions and comply with company policies and service procedures. You have excellent time management skills. You use your time efficiently and proactively ask for other tasks when you have unexpected downtime.
• Other tasks as necessary

Requirements

• Availability – This is a part-time or full-time role with weekends required. Shifts from 7am-3:30pm.
• Kitchen or factory experience – Previous experience working in a kitchen is a huge plus, especially the prior experience washing hands, labeling and dating finished products, and working thoughtfully around others.
• Physical Strength – Ability to perform tasks requiring bending, stooping, walking and standing throughout shift.

Benefits

The benefits and perks continue beyond a robust chocolate education. Dandelion Chocolate constantly invests in our people and culture. All team members have the option to enroll in our 401k program. All employees receive paid vacation time, holiday pay, and paid sick time. In addition, our team members enjoy commuter benefits, FSAs, local gym discounts, chocolate tasting opportunities, the chance to travel to origin and our Japan locations, and a range of opportunities to grow and develop within the company.

How to Apply

Dandelion is growing and we are invested in employees who take ownership over their role and are interested in contributing in a bigger way with us. You will stand out from the crowd if your resume is accompanied by a cover letter with a few sentences about your most memorable food experience. We look forward to hearing from you!