Pearl’s Plant Kitchen, Columbia, IL

• Blends Supply Chain Manager • Buyer • Food Batchmaker • Kitchen Supervisor
• Comp Range $18 – $20 per hour + performance bonus tied to KPIs

Role Summary

This role is the operational backbone of Pearl’s Plant Kitchen — the person who plans, produces, purchases, and ships so the founder can focus on sales and growth. It starts hands-on (batching, ordering, stocking, deliveries) and is built to grow into full independent ownership of day-to-day production as PPK scales, including eventually supervising additional production staff.

Who Thrives Here

We’re looking for someone who wants to help build something, not just fill a shift. Ideal candidates have started their own food business or worked in an early-stage or fast-growing food/beverage company where they wore multiple hats. You should bring an entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable with ambiguity, quick to spot and fix problems without being asked, and genuinely invested in PPK’s growth and success, not just the day-to-day task list. We’re looking for real expertise here — someone who brings more production and operations know-how than we currently have in-house, and can help us scale the operation, not just free up the founder’s time.

This Isn’t a Fit if:

If you need clear processes already in place. If you prefer to “stay in your lane” or want a predictable 9-5 job. If you are not able to be fully productive and innovative without constant supervision or oversight, this won’t be a good fit for you.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Batching

• Ensure Pearl’s Plant Kitchen has the right product available at the right time by planning production around demand, executing consistent batches, and keeping reliable production records.
• Protect product quality and customer trust by maintaining food safety, sanitation, and recipe standards on the production floor.

Purchasing & Vendor Management

• Keep production moving without supply interruptions by sourcing dependable ingredients, packaging, and supplies within PPK’s budget and quality standards.
• Protect margins as the business grows by managing vendor relationships, negotiating terms, tracking cost changes, and identifying better supply options.

Inventory & Fulfillment

• Keep the operation retail- and account-ready by maintaining accurate inventory, organized storage, and clear reorder points.
• Ensure customers and accounts receive complete, accurate orders by preparing fulfillment efficiently and managing local delivery execution.

Operations Leadership (as PPK scales)

• Turn day-to-day production into a repeatable, well-run operation by taking increasing ownership of decisions, staffing, and workflow as PPK scales.
• Create more founder capacity by leading production updates, surfacing risks early, and solving operational issues without requiring constant hands-on oversight.

What You’ll Need

• Preferred: experience founding or working in an early-stage/growing food business
• 1-3+ years in food production, kitchen operations, purchasing, or supply chain
• Comfortable owning both the clipboard and the mixing bowl — this is a working-manager role, not a desk job
• Basic vendor negotiation and cost-tracking skills
• Organized, self-directed, and comfortable with ambiguity in a small, growing company
• Valid driver’s license for local deliveries
• Food handler certification (or willingness to obtain)

Physical Requirements

• Regularly lift/move up to 50 lbs (ingredient and packaging cases)
• Stand for extended periods; work in a commercial kitchen environment
• Local driving for deliveries and supplier pickups

Growth Path

Designed as a path toward Operations Manager/eventual General Manager of production, with increasing autonomy over purchasing budgets, staffing decisions, and production planning as PPK’s account base (including the Mercy Hospital network) expands. Performance that drives real results won’t go unnoticed — bonuses, equity, and expanded ownership are all on the table for the right person as PPK grows.

Please send resumes’ and inquiries to Jason Ashton jashton@pearlsplantkitchen.com.