Head Candymaker
8 days ago
Houston
Job DescriptionSalary: Commensurate with Experience About Papabubble Papabubble is an artisanal candy brand built on craftsmanship, creativity, and performance. We create handmade candies using traditional techniques, premium ingredients, and modern design often in front of customers. Our kitchens are part production facility, part stage, and part classroom, with a strong commitment to safety, food quality, and operational excellence. Position Summary The Head Candymaker is a hands-on production leader responsible for candy production, food safety, quality control, inventory management, staff training, and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs). This role plays a critical part in maintaining product consistency, protecting food safety standards, and supporting the financial performance of the store through efficient production planning and cost awareness. Schedule & Work Expectations • Full-time, • Possible overtime during peak seasons, holidays, and special events, • Morning availability required, • Schedule varies based on production volume and planning Key Responsibilities Candy Production, Quality & Food Safety • Lead daily production of hard candy, lollipops, and specialty items according to approved recipes and quality standards, • Maintain strict controls over temperature, humidity, timing, and ingredient ratios, • Inspect finished products for appearance, taste, texture, and packaging quality, • Enforce food safety standards, including proper handwashing, glove use, allergen controls, cross-contamination prevention, and sanitation procedures, • Maintain clean, organized, and inspection-ready workstations and storage areas, • Ensure equipment is operated safely and cleaned according to established protocols, • Support health inspections and internal audits as needed Safety Leadership • Promote safe work practices around hot sugar, machinery, sharp tools, and cleaning chemicals, • Train staff on proper equipment use, PPE, burn prevention, and emergency procedures, • Report safety hazards and near-miss incidents promptly, • Help maintain incident logs and corrective action plans when required Inventory Management & Ordering • Track daily ingredient usage and finished goods inventory, • Maintain accurate counts of raw materials, packaging supplies, and production tools, • Forecast ingredient needs based on sales volume, seasonality, and event schedules, • Place or support purchase orders for candy ingredients and production supplies, • Rotate inventory using FIFO principles and monitor shelf life, • Minimize waste, spoilage, and over-production SOP Development & Training • Create, document, and continuously improve SOPs for:, • Candy recipes and production methods, • Equipment operation and cleaning, • Food safety and sanitation, • Inventory handling and storage, • Retail production best practices, • Train new and existing staff using documented procedures, • Ensure consistent execution across shifts and team members, • Serve as the technical reference point for candy production standards Operations & Cost Awareness (P&L Support) • Monitor batch yields, ingredient costs, and production efficiency, • Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve margins, • Support management with basic costing data for recipes and new products, • Assist with seasonal product planning and pricing input, • Provide operational insights to help improve store-level profitability Customer Experience (as needed) • Perform live candy demonstrations safely and professionally, • Support private events, classes, and workshops, • Represent Papabubbles craftsmanship, quality, and safety standards on the floor Required Qualifications • 3+ years of professional confectionery or candy production experience (hard candy strongly preferred), • Experience working in a food production or retail food environment, • Prior experience training or mentoring staff, • Strong understanding of food safety standards (ServSafe or equivalent preferred), • Ability to follow and document detailed procedures, • Comfortable working in hot production environments, • High attention to detail and quality standards, • Reliable attendance and strong time management Physical Requirements • Ability to stand for up to 8 hours per shift, • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, • Ability to work near hot equipment and boiling sugar, • Manual dexterity for fine candy design work, • Ability to bend, reach, twist, and move throughout shift Compensation & Benefits • Daytime schedule, • Competitive pay, based on experience, • Overtime pay in accordance with federal and state law, • Employee discount, • Paid time off, • Growth opportunities as Papabubble expands