Production Generalist

Job Description V2024.01

The Production Generalist is responsible for executing a variety of tasks surrounding pottery production. This position is responsible for the production and supporting tasks of the forming, glazing, kiln, and QC processes through the completion of daily and weekly make lists. The Production Generalist will be assigned to various roles within the Production Department as needs arise. Responsibilities may include operation of forming equipment, trimming/handling of pieces, glazing pieces, loading & unloading kilns, and sanding and inspecting finished pieces, while working closely with other team members. It is important that the Production Generalist enjoys and is comfortable working as a part of a team, has acute attention to detail, and works well with similar daily routines.

• Producing pottery as outlined in the weekly production schedule

• Trimming, handling, finishing, or glazing pieces to according to East Fork’s standard operating procedures and quality standards

• Measuring and recording process quality data at least once daily, and more often as needed

• Entering accurate production data daily

• Adhering to daily schedule and informing the Lead of any challenges or roadblocks that impeded workflow or required a shift in tasks

• Preparing machines for the next day to adhere to production scheduling

• Troubleshooting machines and processes when necessary

• Communicating with the Sr. Operators regarding any issues, material needs, or questions regarding training or work assignments

• Participating in daily production meetings and regular team meetings

• Adhering to testing protocols, filling out routers appropriately and ensuring that routers follow wares through the production process as necessary

• Maintaining a clean and sanitary work area daily

• Effectively receiving and applying feedback

• Able to flex to other work assignments as needed

• Adherence to East Fork’s safety standards and protocols

• Adherence to East Fork’s Attendance Policy

• Professional & effective communication with all team members

Operator for your assigned team

Production Team

None

Your first review will be 90 days after your start date, then a six-month check-in and a development review annually for the duration of your employment. During each review, your performance and ability to achieve the following metrics will be evaluated.

• Production requirements are met, and daily tasks are completed as assigned by the make lists

• A consistent rate (pots per hour) in trimming, forming, and or glazing is maintained

• Pieces are made and finished to East Fork’s standard of quality

• Tool changes are conducted independently, with accuracy and consistency across runs

• Formed weights and clay hardness are tested daily

• Accurate production data is entered daily

• Adherence to East Fork’s safety protocols

• Adherence to East Fork’s Employee Attendance Policy

This position is full time, non-exempt.

East Fork shall pay you $23.15 hourly at Grade 1

40+ hrs, Monday - Friday 8AM - 4PM

• Promotes the culture and values of the company while maintaining a positive work environment

• Strong preference for production / manufacturing experience

• Positive attitude and ability to work as a part of a team

• Ability to multitask while maintaining a calm and collected demeanor

• Strong work ethic

• Ability to problem solve and willingness to learn new skills

• Willingness to work with flexibility and adjust to changing systems

• Ability to learn to effectively operate production related equipment

• Ability to keep accurate, ongoing logs

• Ability to maintain attention to detail and craftsmanship

• Ability to avoid third party feedback loops and siloed conversations

• Works well with similar daily routines and tasks

• Collaborates across cultural differences

• Ability to respect and communicate across lines of cultural differences

• Ability to address conflict by assuming positive intent and seeking to understand

• Ability to embrace a mistake w/ out fault

• A commitment to center the active process of self awareness

Extensive physical exertions which includes but are not limited to:

• Standing for extended periods

• Ability to lift 50 lbs as needed

• Repetitive bending, lifting, and hand/arm movements

East Fork is located in Asheville, NC, Washington DC, and Brooklyn, NY. At our heart we are makers: we produce every piece of ceramics we sell and source other objects for the home from near and far to offer a meaningful, beautiful, and personal collection of useful objects for the home.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Paid Holidays

• Sick Leave

• Bereavement Leave

• Paid Medical Leave

• Employee Assistance Network

• Court Activity Leave

• Employee Discount

• Employer funded $10k group life insurance plan

• Employer Subsidized Health Insurance Plans

• Voluntary Vision & Dental Plans

• Employer matched 401(k)

Craft: Craft is not the things we make, it’s the way we make them. It’s the spirit in which we approach our work, to make it nice, to aspire to mastery, and it demonstrates our care about the person who will use the product of our work and how our work impacts their life.

Generosity: We work towards a model of shared prosperity, setting a bigger, more inclusive, more equitable table for everyone we meet - from our employees to the communities in which we live.

Consideration: We approach each other with focus, clarity, and kindness. We think deeply about the outcome and impacts of our actions, on our organization, the individuals within it, our customers, our environment, and our community.

Curiosity: We stay in our beginner's mind, humble, aware of how much we do not know, striving earnestly and open-heartedly towards our shared success.

It is important that all prospective job candidates are aware of our company values and of our commitment to building an inclusive company culture. As a white-led organization, we acknowledge that the realities of white supremacy, hetero/cis-normativity, and patriarchy, work in tandem to oppress both people and planet; and that through our own proximity to power, we have benefitted from systemic inequity. We are committed to confronting and rectifying our privilege in service of co-creating an equitable workplace—a space where people can show up authentically in mind, body, and spirit. We honor the collective sum rather than a monolithic experience to reveal a path of excellency, yours and ours. As we continue to build momentum within our anti-racist work we pledge to be intentional in crafting actions that support diversity, equity and inclusion in our framework, and we invite all East Fork teammembers to contribute to this goal.

Levels for Role

Level One

Production Generalist

Level two

Production Generalist 2

• At least 6 months spent in Level 1 Production Generalist role

Consistently meets individual and/or team metrics and output

• Production requirements are met, and daily tasks are completed as assigned by the make lists

• A consistent rate that regularly meets production goals in forming and or glazing is maintained in roles where it is required

• Can conduct any tool changeover in primary department where required

• Shows initiative in areas of process improvement, organization, and cleaning

• Assist with training new team members

Level two

Production Generalist 3

• At least 1 year spent in Production Generalist 2 role

• Production requirements are met, and daily tasks are completed as assigned by the make lists

• Consistently maintains positive and proactive attitude

• Production requirements are met, and daily tasks are completed as assigned by the make lists

• An above average rate in forming and/or glazing is maintained where required

• Pieces are made and finished to East Fork’s standard of quality

• Tool changes are conducted independently, with accuracy and consistency across runs where required

• Assist in minor Kiln repairs