Located in the picturesque town of St. Jacobs, Heidelberg Foods Ltd. specializes in premium quality, great tasting, shelf stable meat products and meat snacks. We operate out of a state-of-the-art BRC Global Standard certified, federally registered, CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regulated meat processing facility with additional facilities available in the Kitchener/Waterloo region to support expansion in Canada and internationally.
Heidelberg Foods Ltd. has an opening in its Ready-To-Eat (RTE) production area for a Lead Hand at its St. Jacobs location.
ROLE:
The RTE Lead Hand provides direction and support within the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) department to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operations. This role combines hands-on production duties with leadership responsibilities and includes coverage of the RTE Supervisor during absences.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide daily direction and support to operators in the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) department.
- Assist with scheduling, workflow coordination, and troubleshooting production issues.
- Support training, coaching, and mentorship of employees to build skills and improve performance.
- Ensure compliance with food safety and quality programs, including HACCP, GMP, CFIA, and BRC.
- Perform and verify pre-operational checks, sanitation standards, and equipment readiness.
- Monitor product quality, packaging integrity, labeling accuracy, and adherence to specifications.
- Communicate effectively with QA, Raw, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Office departments.
- Maintain accurate documentation, including CCPs, GMPs, and production records.
- Promote and enforce safe work practices, including PPE use and equipment safety.
- Assist with equipment changeovers, adjustments, and minor troubleshooting.
- Provide leadership coverage for the RTE Supervisor during absences.
- Maintain a safe, clean, and organized work environment.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental operations.
Qualifications & Competencies:
- Minimum of 2 years' experience in the food or meat industry. Preferably with a form-fill-seal thermoforming systems (Repak), Auto labelers, foreign material detection systems (x-ray & metal detection), and scaling systems (e.g. Bizerba).
- Strong knowledge of food safety and quality programs (HACCP, GMP, CFIA, BRC).
- Proven ability to lead, train, and mentor employees.
- Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong ability to manage tasks and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Mechanical aptitude with the ability to assist in troubleshooting and changeovers.
- Competence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
- Ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing demands.
- Conflict resolution and decision-making skills.
- Attention to detail with a focus on accuracy and compliance.
- Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and efficiency.
- Flexibility to provide coverage across shifts or departments when required.
Position is hourly: 40 - 44 hours per week
Day Shift at an hourly rate of $$25.00 - $27.00 (depending upon experience) **Plus Benefits after three month probationary period.**.
Typical Hours: Monday to Friday 6:00am – 3:30pm or 7:00am – 4:30pm (Shift start times may vary depending upon production schedules.)
Production environment temperature is 4 degrees Celsius or lower. Need to dress appropriately. Freezer jackets are supplied.
We are committed to providing an accessible recruitment experience. If you require accommodation during the selection process. please let us know, and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $25.00-$27.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Discounted or free food
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
