Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jelly Technician

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a detail-oriented Jelly Technician to join our confectionery production team. The Jelly Technician is responsible for the safe, efficient and consistent manufacture of jelly products (jellies, gummies, gel-based confections) by operating cookers and depositor lines, controlling process parameters (temperature, pH, viscosity), ensuring product quality against specifications, executing sanitation and CIP procedures, and maintaining accurate production and QC records. This role bridges production, quality assurance, maintenance and R&D to deliver high-quality confections while complying with food safety standards such as HACCP, GMP and SQF.

Keywords: jelly technician, jelly production, gummy confectionery, batching, cookers, depositor, pectin, gelatin, viscosity control, HACCP, GMP, food safety, CIP, troubleshooting, quality control, process optimization

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Food Production Operator / Line Operator
Packaging Technician or Bakery Assistant
Sanitation Specialist in food manufacturing

Advancement To:

Senior Jelly Technician / Lead Operator
Production Supervisor / Shift Supervisor
Process Technician / Process Improvement Specialist
Quality Assurance Technician or Manager
R&D Food Technologist or Production Manager

Lateral Moves:

Quality Control/Quality Assurance Technician
Maintenance Technician (mechanical/electrical)
Packaging or Filling Line Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate and monitor jelly production equipment including cookers, vacuum pans, depositors, extruders, cooling tunnels, and packaging lines to produce jellies and gummies that meet recipe and quality specifications, adjusting feeds and speeds as necessary to maintain throughput and product consistency.
Prepare and weigh raw ingredients (sugars, syrups, pectin, gelatin, acids, flavors, colors) according to batch tickets and standard operating procedures, ensuring precise measurements and timely addition to the cooker or mixing vessel.
Control and record critical process parameters such as temperature profiles, cook times, vacuum settings, concentration/Brix, pH, and viscosity during batch processing, making real-time adjustments to maintain product characteristics and minimize rework.
Conduct step-by-step batch start-ups, changeovers and shutdowns for multiple SKUs while following documented cleaning, purge and allergen control procedures to prevent cross-contact and maintain food safety and traceability.
Perform in-line quality checks and laboratory sampling (pH, Brix, color, texture, weight, dimensional checks) at prescribed intervals and document results in production logs and batch records for regulatory and quality audits.
Troubleshoot process and equipment issues (e.g., clogged depositors, inconsistent gel set, air entrainment, viscosity variations) and coordinate with maintenance to perform or schedule mechanical, electrical or process corrections to restore normal operations.
Execute CIP (clean-in-place) and sanitation runs on cookers, piping, tanks and other process equipment in compliance with GMPs and sanitation schedules, documenting completion and any deviations.
Maintain strict adherence to HACCP, GMP, SQF and FSMA requirements by participating in hazard analysis activities, following corrective action procedures, and escalating non-conformances to Quality or Management.
Operate and verify calibration of process measurement instruments (pH meters, refractometers, viscometers, thermometers) and report out-of-tolerance conditions to Quality or Engineering for corrective action.
Load and changeover packaging materials, set up and adjust fillers and wrappers, verify label integrity and code dates, and ensure final packaged product meets weight, seal and presentation standards.
Manage allergen zones and segregation protocols for gelatin, dairy, tree nuts or other allergens by enforcing PPE, color-coded utensils and changeover protocols during multi-product runs.
Assist in recipe trials, pilot batches and new product introductions by following R&D instructions, recording observations, and recommending parameter tweaks based on production experience and sensory evaluation.
Maintain accurate production documentation including batch logs, yield reports, deviation reports, equipment logs and sanitation sign-offs; ensure records are complete for traceability and audit readiness.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives such as yield optimization, waste reduction, energy-saving measures and efficiency improvements using Lean manufacturing and 5S principles.
Enforce workplace safety and environmental controls by using appropriate PPE, following lockout/tagout procedures during maintenance, reporting near-misses and incidents, and handling chemicals and waste according to MSDS and SOPs.
Train and mentor junior operators on proper jelly production techniques, GMP expectations, safety protocols and correct use of production and QA instruments.
Coordinate with inventory and procurement to report low-stock ingredients, packaging or spare parts that impact scheduled production runs and support first-in-first-out (FIFO) and lot rotation practices.
Monitor finished product metrics (moisture, texture, shelf stability) and collaborate with Quality to investigate and lead root-cause analysis for product complaints or out-of-specification results.
Support seasonal and promotional production surges by assisting with scheduling, overtime coordination, and setup of temporary lines while maintaining quality and safety standards.
Validate and document corrective actions for recalls, hold/release processes or production deviations, and assist in executing rework plans that preserve product safety and minimize economic loss.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of production areas, tools and control panels, ensuring compliance with 5S and plant housekeeping standards to reduce contamination risk and improve operational visibility.
Communicate proactively with cross-functional teams—Quality, Maintenance, Scheduling, R&D and Supply Chain—to align on production priorities, changeovers, and capacity planning while minimizing downtime.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist R&D and Quality teams during pilot plant runs and sensory testing by preparing samples, logging trial parameters and providing operator feedback.
Participate in internal and external audits by preparing required production records, guiding auditors through production processes, and implementing agreed corrective actions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient operation of jelly and gummy confectionery equipment: cookers, vacuum pans, depositors, extruders, cooling tunnels, and automated packaging lines.
Strong understanding of confectionery ingredients (pectin, gelatin, starches, sugars, acids, humectants) and how formulation changes affect gelling, texture and shelf-life.
Competence with process control and measurement devices: pH meters, refractometers/Brix meters, viscometers/rheometers, and thermocouples.
Experience with HACCP, GMP, SQF (or GFSI) food safety programs and ability to follow and document critical control points and corrective actions.
Ability to perform accurate batch weighing, scaling calculations, yield and waste reconciliation, and basic recipe math.
Skilled in CIP and sanitation procedures for food processing equipment, including knowledge of cleaning schedules, chemical handling and MSDS interpretation.
Familiarity with troubleshooting mechanical and process issues and coordinating with maintenance teams; basic mechanical aptitude for minor adjustments and repairs.
Experience with production recordkeeping, batch logs, deviation reporting and electronic/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle JD Edwards, or MES systems).
Knowledge of allergen control, lot traceability, and product labeling/packaging compliance.
Experience conducting in-process and finished product QC tests and interpreting results to make production decisions.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to product quality and food safety.
Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving capability under production time pressure.
Clear and timely communication skills to work across production, QA, maintenance and supply chain teams.
Ability to train, mentor and lead small teams on the line while enforcing policies and best practices.
Adaptable and flexible with shift work, seasonal demand fluctuations and multi-SKU environments.
Continuous improvement mindset with willingness to contribute ideas for efficiency and waste reduction.
Good time management and organizational skills to manage multiple responsibilities and documentation.
Accountability and integrity when handling sensitive records, GMP compliance and recall situations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with relevant food production experience.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical diploma in Food Science, Food Technology, Culinary Arts, Mechanical/Electrical Technology or related manufacturing discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Food Science / Food Technology
Chemical Engineering (process-focused)
Mechanical or Electrical Technology
Culinary Arts with production experience
Industrial Maintenance / Manufacturing Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years in food manufacturing, preferably 2+ years directly in confectionery, jelly or gummy production.

Preferred:

3–5+ years of experience operating confectionery lines with demonstrated knowledge of pectin/gelatin systems, HACCP/GMP compliance, batch processing, in-line QC, CIP/sanitation and equipment troubleshooting.
Experience with MES/ERP production systems, Lean manufacturing projects, and leading small production teams is a strong plus.