Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jelly Mixer

🎯 Role Definition

The Jelly Mixer is a hands-on production role responsible for preparing, operating, and maintaining mixing equipment to produce consistent, safe, and high-quality jellies, jams, and fruit spreads. This role executes standardized recipes and batching procedures, monitors process controls (temperature, viscosity, pH), performs in-process quality checks, and ensures compliance with food safety systems (GMP, HACCP). The ideal Jelly Mixer combines mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and strong sanitation discipline to deliver production targets while minimizing waste and ensuring traceability.

Key SEO/LLM keywords: Jelly Mixer, jam production, fruit spread manufacturing, mixing operator, batch mixing, HACCP, GMP, CIP, process control, viscosity control, quality sampling.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Production Operator / General Manufacturing Associate
Food Processing Hand / Fruit Preparation Assistant
Packaging Operator or Sanitation Technician

Advancement To:

Senior Jelly Mixer / Lead Mixer
Batch/Shift Supervisor – Fruit Spread Production
Process Technician / Continuous Improvement Specialist
Quality Assurance (QA) Technician or HACCP Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Packaging Technician (filling and capping)
Sanitation Technician / CIP Operator
Maintenance Technician (mechanical support)
Inventory/Materials Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate and monitor industrial mixing equipment and associated feed systems to produce jellies and jams according to validated recipes, ensuring correct ingredient order, timing, and mixing speeds for each batch.
Weigh, measure, and proportion raw materials, sugars, pectin, acids, fruit solids, and supplements using calibrated scales and dispensing systems, following batch sheets and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Set up, prime, and start mixing systems (including ribbon, kettle, or vacuum mixers), verify seals and safety interlocks, and ensure proper pump and valve configurations before batch initiation.
Monitor critical process parameters in real time — temperature profiles, agitation rates, vacuum levels, pH, and viscosity — and adjust controls or notify maintenance/engineering when parameters fall outside limits.
Collect in-process samples at designated control points, perform basic on-floor tests (temperature, pH strip checks, visual clarity, and viscosity approximations), and prepare samples for laboratory testing with full chain-of-custody documentation.
Maintain complete and accurate batch records, ingredient logs, and production reports including lot numbers, yields, deviations, and corrective actions to ensure product traceability and compliance with food safety audits.
Perform clean-in-place (CIP) and washdown procedures on mixers, pumps, piping, and tanks following validated cleaning cycles, chemical strengths, and contact times to meet microbial and allergen control requirements.
Execute pre- and post-production inspections on mechanical seals, agitator blades, gaskets, sight glasses, and temperature probes; report and escalate equipment defects, leaks, or unusual noises to maintenance.
Implement and comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP plans, allergen control programs, and company food safety policies; participate in hazard analysis and critical control point monitoring as assigned.
Troubleshoot basic mechanical and process issues during mixing runs—addressing inconsistent texture, curdling, overheating, or thinning—using process knowledge and escalation protocols to minimize downtime.
Ramp production lines to scheduled output rates by synchronizing mixing cycles with filling, cooking/kettle, and cooling operations, coordinating handoffs to packaging and CIP teams for smooth throughput.
Execute recipe changeovers efficiently and safely: drain, perform transitional clean steps, reconfigure feed lines, and verify final product attributes before releasing next SKU to production.
Follow allergen handling and segregation controls, perform labeling verification for allergen statements, and ensure dedicated equipment or validated cleaning between allergenic and non-allergenic product runs.
Maintain accurate inventory usage records for ingredients and additives, feed inventory consumption to the materials management system, and communicate shortages or quality issues to procurement and production planning.
Participate in root-cause analysis and corrective actions for out-of-specification events and customer complaints related to texture, flavor, color, or contaminants; support CAPA documentation and verification steps.
Support preventive maintenance by performing routine lubrication, bolt torque checks, belt and chain inspections, and visual cleanliness checks, while coordinating scheduled downtime with maintenance teams.
Document deviations, non-conformances, near misses, and safety incidents promptly; complete required incident reports and participate in investigations and follow-up training.
Adhere to all occupational safety and environmental regulations on the production floor, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) for equipment servicing, confined space awareness for tank entry, and proper chemical handling for cleaning agents.
Train and mentor junior mixers and temporary staff on SOPs, safety protocols, and correct mixing techniques; provide on-the-job coaching to maintain consistent product quality and operational discipline.
Assist quality assurance and R&D teams during scale-ups, pilot runs, and new SKU introductions by providing process feedback, capability data, and operational constraints for recipe optimization.
Maintain a clean, organized workstation and contribute to 5S and continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing waste, improving yield, and increasing batch consistency.
Execute accurate timekeeping, shift handovers, and production logs; clearly communicate outstanding issues and ongoing corrective actions to the incoming shift to ensure continuity.
Support packaging and logistics by staging finished goods, verifying fill weights, and ensuring proper transfer and cooling requirements are met prior to packaging to preserve product integrity.
Participate in internal and external audits (customer, regulatory, third-party) by preparing requested documentation, demonstrating process steps, and implementing audit corrective actions in assigned areas.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc quality and production data collection, including yield tracking, scrap analysis, and cost-of-goods reporting to enable continuous improvement projects.
Serve as subject matter resource for mixing-related SOP updates, work instructions, and training materials to standardize best practices across shifts.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, QA, Maintenance, Planning) to improve batch consistency, reduce cycle times, and optimize ingredient usage.
Assist with periodic calibration checks for in-line probes, scales, and thermometers, scheduling third-party calibration as required.
Participate in pilot trials for new formulation trials and provide operational input on scale-up feasibility and process robustness.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience operating industrial mixers and kettles for jam/jelly or similar viscous food products; comfortable with ribbon, planetary, vacuum, and kettle systems.
Strong understanding of food safety systems: HACCP, GMP, SQF/IFS/BRC fundamentals and ability to execute associated monitoring tasks.
Practical knowledge of Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems, chemical dilution, and sanitation cycles to maintain microbiological control and allergen segregation.
Competency in reading and executing batch records, recipes, SOPs, and production schedules with high accuracy.
Ability to perform and interpret basic on-floor QC tests: temperature measurement, pH checks, Brix and viscosity approximations, and visual inspections.
Mechanical aptitude for basic troubleshooting and preventive maintenance tasks, including pump purge, seal replacement assistance, and agitator alignment checks.
Experience with ingredient handling, weighing systems, volumetric fillers, and material transfers including pumps, valves, and piping configurations.
Familiarity with process control instrumentation (thermocouples, RTDs, pressure gauges), PLC interfaces, and ability to enter/interpret process data.
Proficiency with production recordkeeping and basic electronic systems (MES, ERP, or manufacturing logs) for batch traceability and inventory updates.
Understanding of allergen management, cleaning validation principles, and cross-contact prevention procedures in a food plant.
Forklift or pallet jack certification preferred for material staging and finished goods movement.
Basic math skills for scaling recipes, calculating yields, and interpreting weight tolerances.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail with a focus on consistent product quality and accurate documentation.
Excellent communication skills for effective handovers, documentation, and cross-functional coordination.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to identify root causes and implement practical corrective actions.
Team player attitude willing to support other shifts, departments, and production priorities.
Time management and prioritization skills to meet batch schedules and production targets.
Adaptability to changing recipes, SKUs, and process improvements.
Commitment to safety culture and adherence to procedural discipline.
Coaching ability to train new hires and reinforce best practices on the floor.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; vocational training in food manufacturing or mechanical trades is advantageous.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or certificate in Food Science, Food Technology, Manufacturing Technology, or Mechanical Maintenance.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Food Science / Food Technology
Mechanical or Industrial Maintenance
Manufacturing Technology
Culinary Arts with food production focus
Quality Assurance / HACCP training

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years in food processing or manufacturing, with at least 1 year in mixing/kettle operations preferred.

Preferred:

2+ years of direct experience in jam, jelly, fruit spread, or similar viscous food production environments.
Hands-on experience with CIP systems, HACCP recordkeeping, and GMP compliance.
Prior exposure to high-volume batch production, recipe changeovers, and cross-functional production coordination.