Production Associate

Company Overview

Ancient Crunch Inc. is the fastest-growing healthy snack brand in the U.S. Our flagship product, MASA Chips, is the #1 selling tallow-fried tortilla chips in premium retailers like Erewhon. We manufacture all MASA products in-house at our Hackettstown facility using real ingredients—no seed oils, artificial flavors, or preservatives. All operations adhere to strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety standards.

Reports To: Production Supervisor
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Schedule: Monday - Friday; weekend availability and a flexible working schedule are required for this 40-hour per week position. Specific shift assignments will be determined by the direct supervisor or manager and are subject to change based on evolving departmental and operational requirements.

Position Summary

The Production Associate supports the day-to-day operation of the production line, helping ensure product quality, food safety, and efficiency standards are consistently met. This role handles hands-on tasks along the line — feeding and loading materials, hand-packing product, and keeping the line running smoothly — while following all SOPs and safety procedures.

The responsibilities listed below are not exhaustive. As Ancient Crunch scales, the requirements of this position will expand and adapt. The Production Associate is expected to lead new initiatives and assume additional duties consistent with this title and the long-term evolution of our production strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Line Support

• Feed and load raw materials — organic corn, beef tallow, seasonings, and packaging — onto the line as directed.
• Assist with masa prep, dough sheeting, and cutting stations as assigned.
• Monitor chips as they come off the fryer and through the seasoning drum, adjusting flow or catching jams as needed.
• Hand-pack, weigh, and seal bags at the packaging station, checking fill weights and seal quality.
• Keep the line stocked with corn, tallow, seasoning, and bags/pouches throughout the shift.

Quality & Documentation

• Check chips against basic quality specs (color, crunch, breakage, seasoning coverage) and pull anything that doesn't meet standard.
• Check bag weights and seals against spec at regular intervals.
• Fill out basic production, downtime, and quality logs in English.
• Follow batch and lot coding/tracking procedures for traceability.

Cleaning & Sanitation

• Keep workstations, fryers, seasoning drums, and packaging equipment clean and organized throughout the shift.
• Participate in line changeovers (e.g., switching flavors) and full sanitation between production runs.
• Follow all GMP, allergen control, and food safety requirements at all times.

Safety & Teamwork

• Follow all PPE and safety requirements (hairnets, gloves, steel-toed shoes, hearing protection, etc.).
• Work safely around hot oil, moving machinery, noise, heat, and industrial conditions.
• Communicate issues, delays, or safety concerns to the Production Supervisor promptly.
• Rotate between stations (prep, frying, seasoning, packaging) as assigned to support the line where needed.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Attention to Detail: Able to spot product, weight, or packaging issues quickly.
• Reliability: Dependable, punctual, and consistent throughout the shift.
• Physical Stamina: Comfortable with repetitive, hands-on work at a steady pace, including around heat and hot tallow.
• Communication: Able to read, write, and communicate well.
• Teamwork & Flexibility: Works well with others and adapts to rotating stations or changing priorities.

Physical Requirements (Onsite)

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry materials throughout the shift
• Ability to use stairs and ladders throughout the shift
• Ability to work in hot, humid, wet, and industrial production environments
• Ability to wear required PPE, including respirators, gloves, hearing protection, face shields, and protective clothing

Qualifications

• Authorized to work in the U.S. and able to commute to Hackettstown, NJ
• Good memory, follow-up skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Interest in product quality, manufacturing, or food/science environments a plus
• Bachelor's degree preferred

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• A health and wellness-focused culture
• All the chips you can eat!

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) & Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Ancient Crunch Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

All employment decisions at Ancient Crunch Inc.—including hiring, promotion, discipline, or discharge—are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

In accordance with the ADA, we provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so creates an undue hardship for the company. Applicants requiring accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the HR Department.