Lead, Warewashing- (AM 5:45AM - 230PM) (63585)

TITLE: Lead, Warewashing

DEPARTMENT: Kitchen

REPORTS TO: Supervisor, Culinary

WHO WE ARE:

Thistle makes it easy to eat well – without overthinking it. Thistle was founded in 2013 with a mission to help people get and stay healthy while improving the sustainability of our food system. Thistle delivers fully prepared, healthy-by-default meals, snacks, desserts, and organic cold-pressed juices. We believe the health of people starts with eating real, whole foods, in the right balance, without the friction. We’re building a future where nutritious, sustainable food is accessible, craveable, and part of everyday life.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The warewashing lead leads and supervises a team of dishwashers. Warewashing leads ensure that the dish machine and other warewashing tasks are completed in accordance with requirements. They maintain continuity of workflow in the Dish Area to ensure that Production and Culinary teams have the tools, supplies, and equipment they need at all times.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE:

People Leadership & Team Support

• Support Culinary and Production Leadership in overseeing daily warewashing and dish area operations to ensure efficiency, cleanliness, compliance, and operational readiness.
• Maintain a positive, respectful, and team-oriented work environment through supportive leadership, accountability, and clear communication.
• Communicate shift expectations, break schedules, and return-to-work timelines while ensuring proper staffing coverage and accountability.
• Support training and development of associates on warewashing procedures, sanitation standards, equipment usage, and safety protocols.

Production & Operational Execution

• Perform all responsibilities of the Dishwasher Associate role while supporting overall shift execution and production flow.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and production-ready dish room and workspace at all times.
• Operate commercial dishwashing equipment safely and efficiently, including manual three-compartment sink washing procedures.
• Support the cadence of culinary production by ensuring materials, equipment, and smallwares are cleaned, sanitized, and returned quickly for operational use.
• Organize, store, and manage all equipment and materials processed through the dish area.
• Clean and sanitize kitchen equipment and production areas by the end of shift, including but not limited to smallwares, utensils, cooking equipment, utility carts, speed racks, bread racks, rolling dollies, crates, walls, and dish room surfaces.
• Drive operational efficiency, accuracy, and productivity to meet daily throughput goals and shift deadlines.
• Ensure sanitation buckets, cleaning solutions, and required materials are stocked and available before production begins.
• Maintain accurate completion and submission of all sanitation logs, temperature checks, quality documentation, and operational records at the end of each shift.
• Utilize and update operational systems and digital production tools accurately and in real time as required.
• Identify, communicate, and document shortages of cleaning supplies, damaged equipment, or unusable smallwares that require replacement or disposal.
• Report equipment issues, maintenance concerns, and safety risks to Culinary Leadership immediately upon discovery.
• Support overall kitchen cleaning, sanitization, and operational readiness across all culinary production areas.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Follow and enforce GMP, food safety, OSHA, sanitation, and company safety standards at all times.
• Ensure allergen-free materials are properly washed, sanitized, stored, and handled in accordance with established allergen control procedures.
• Participate in safety meetings and remain informed on policy updates, operational changes, and compliance requirements.
• Support Culinary Leadership with internal Quality Assurance and audit initiatives.
• Apply safe work practices, including proper chemical handling, fire prevention procedures, hazard awareness, and safe lifting techniques.
• Maintain a clean, safe, compliant, and audit-ready work environment throughout all production and dishwashing areas.

Who You Are 

• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Possess 2+ years of manufacturing experience, with a preference for food manufacturing experience.
• Strong proficiency in operating all commercial dishwashing equipment
• Highly proficient in identifying the types of wares being washed. 
• Ability to communicate warewashing needs and challenges to the appropriate stakeholders with minimal supervision and guidance
• Strong leadership skills in managing associates assigned to the dishroom to hit throughput targets and efficiency goals in a supportive and encouraging environment.
• Strong communication skills that put compliance first
• Ability to balance empathetic and direct feedback in order to both support and advocate for the team and maintain consistent standards of performance.
• Able to escalate Employee-related concerns and/or issues to the appropriate parties with clear documentation and follow-through
• Ability to form effective working relationships with a cross-functional team

Our Culture

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential values at Thistle. We know we do our best and most impactful work when we feel we are represented and belong. We're proud to actively recruit and hire talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.  We do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”), including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, citizenship, national origin, color, hairstyles, hair texture, religion or religious creed, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran or active military status, marital status, criminal record, genetics, retaliation, sexual harassment or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.