Oak & Steel Smokehouse is hiring part-time Operations Team Members to join our production team in Cologne, Minnesota. This role supports the daily preparation, packaging, inventory, and sanitation work required to produce high-quality smoked meats in a regulated food-production environment.
This is a hands-on role for someone who is reliable, detail-oriented, organized, and willing to work hard as part of a small production team.
About Oak & Steel Smokehouse
Oak & Steel Smokehouse is a growing smokehouse specializing in wholesale smoked meats made from Midwest-sourced products. We take pride in producing consistent, high-quality products while following strict food-safety standards.
We operate under daily inspection by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and follow HACCP-based procedures throughout production, packaging, cleaning, and inventory management.
Position Overview
The Operations Team Member will support either the AM or PM shift. Responsibilities vary by shift, but both roles require attention to detail, cleanliness, consistency, and the ability to follow established procedures.
This position plays an important role in keeping production moving, maintaining accurate inventory, preparing products for packaging, and ensuring the packing room is clean, organized, and ready for use.
AM Shift Responsibilities
The AM shift is primarily focused on setting up the packing room, packaging finished meat products, managing inventory, and maintaining a clean work area.
Primary duties include:
- Setting up the packing room for daily meat-packaging operations
- Packaging smoked meat products according to company standards
- Following HACCP guidelines and food-safety procedures
- Labeling, organizing, and handling finished products properly
- Managing inventory of produced products
- Stocking, organizing, and tracking packaged product
- Keeping the packing room clean, organized, and production-ready
- Communicating clearly with team members and leadership
- Completing assigned production and sanitation tasks as needed
PM Shift Responsibilities
The PM shift is primarily focused on meat preparation, butcher-cut packaging, tallow preparation, labeling, stocking, and full cleaning of the packing room.
Primary duties include:
- Trimming briskets according to company standards
- Preparing pork for production
- Packaging butcher cuts
- Grinding beef fat for tallow production
- Labeling bags and packaged products accurately
- Stocking cases and organizing product
- Cleaning, sanitizing, and resetting the packing room
- Following HACCP guidelines and food-safety procedures
- Maintaining a clean and organized work environment
- Supporting production needs as assigned
Qualifications
Qualified candidates should have:
- Strong reliability, punctuality, and work ethic
- Ability to follow instructions, procedures, recipes, and production standards
- Strong attention to detail
- Willingness to work with raw and cooked meat products
- Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment
- Ability to maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized workspace
- Good communication and teamwork skills
- Ability to stand for extended periods and perform physical production tasks
Food production, meat processing, packaging, kitchen, butcher, warehouse, or sanitation experience is preferred but not required for the right candidate.
Physical Requirements
This role may require:
- Standing for long periods of time
- Lifting and moving boxes, cases, and meat products
- Working in refrigerated areas
- Working around raw meat, cooked meat, packaging equipment, and cleaning chemicals
- Bending, reaching, carrying, trimming, grinding, packaging, and cleaning
- Maintaining focus and accuracy during repetitive production tasks
Schedule
Part-time position. AM and PM shifts are available. Final shift assignment and weekly schedule will be discussed during the interview process.
Why Join Oak & Steel?
This is an opportunity to join a fast growing smokehouse and be part of a small, focused team producing high-quality smoked meats for wholesale and direct to customers. The right person will have the chance to grow with the company while helping build strong production systems from the ground up.
Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
