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Job Opportunities
A Vermont Family Company since 1983. Vermont is more than an address for Lake Champlain Chocolates. It's home — where we live, who we are, and how we do business. It's also where we make our chocolates — right here in Burlington by the shores of Lake Champlain. And from the first truffle in 1983 to present day, Vermont has inspired us to take a craftsman’s approach to chocolate: creativity, patience, and mastery.
Lake Champlain Chocolates uses business as a force for good. We listen, learn, and adapt to ensure that we provide an equitable and inclusive work environment where all people experience belonging, opportunity, respect, and dignity. We seek team members who want to join us in that effort!
Join us in our pursuit of extraordinary chocolate moments!
Current Openings at Lake Champlain Chocolates:
MOULDING LINE OPERATOR
We are seeking an experienced Moulding Line Operator. As an operator, you will be responsible for the day-to-day machine operations including set-up, change-over, monitoring & adjusting and shut-down of our chocolate moulding line. In addition, you will perform other duties as assigned, such as documentation of key production and packaging information: product weights, time on job, quantities made, essential production and QA related checks.
Essential Functions and Basic Duties:
• Starts up moulding line. This includes starting chillers, air compressors, chocolate tanks, pumps, and tempering units.
• Ensures settings are correct in moulding Line PLC for product to be made.
• Ensures temperatures are correct on moulding line chocolate temperors and monitors them throughout shift.
• Changes molds in moulding line based on product being made.
• Collects and evaluates test samples and checks them for proper specifications.
• Observes functioning of machine parts and adjust, if necessary, based on machine knowledge.
• Monitor and record weights and perform quality checks on a periodic basis.
• Reports any process and equipment problems. Calls the Maintenance technician and/or Production Supervisor for assistance.
• Reports promptly to department Supervisor when delays occur. Estimates time of delay and when operations will be resumed.
• Ensures the Quality and Standards for product are consistently achieved.
• Monitors chocolate levels in tanks and takes appropriate actions when needed. Actions may include filling chocolate, switching tanks, or notifying department manager of chocolate filling needs.
• Records amount of product made in the shift as well as amounts for scrap and seconds.
• Ensures continuity of production through breaks and lunches by staggering personnel or communicating personnel needs to department manager.
• Responsible for shutdown of moulding line and related equipment, cleaning and sanitizing various parts as needed.
• Ensures that work area is clean, orderly, and well maintained.
• Follows established policies, rules, regulations, and safety procedures.
Physical Demands:
Must be able to lift up to 50lbs consistently. While performing the duties of this job, you will be regularly required to stand, walk and to evaluate product by handling and/or feeling and will be occasionally required to sit, climb, or balance.
Work Environment:
This is a fast-paced, moderate noise level environment with exposure to the following allergens: milk, peanuts, soybean, tree nut, and wheat.
Education and/or Experience:
High School Diploma or GED. Must have basic English reading/writing skills, and basic math skills. At least three years of experience working with mechanical line operations in a manufacturing environment.
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at our 290 Boyer Circle facility in Williston, VT.
DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE
Passionate about people, building inclusive workplaces, and fostering positive relationships? Do you thrive in a values-driven company and happen to love chocolate? If so, you might be the dynamic and versatile person to lead and further develop our people operations. In this role, you will shape and guide our people strategy and operations. With strength in best practices, employment law and compliance, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of all employees, you will assess, create, implement, and revise the full scope of policies, practices, and programs necessary to support organizational growth, employee development, safety, legal compliance, and increase cultural competency. You will also get to work with collaborative, innovative, honest, respectful, and enthusiastic colleagues!
We believe in a better way of doing business by focusing on a triple bottom line: people, profits, and planet. The ideal candidate will reflect these shared values, lead with integrity, and have a proven track-record of demonstrating highly-developed HR competencies and human relation skills, within a diverse and dynamic manufacturing setting.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the President, the Director of People & Culture is a trusted advisor who leads, directs, inspires, and develops people operations to achieve short and long-range strategic objectives through successful planning and execution. This role is responsible for helping to create a positive, inclusive, and growth-mindset culture with a focus on continuous learning & improvement in alignment with our values and B-Corp principles. The Director of People & Culture develops and maintains systems, policies, procedures, and practices for all human resource functions including legal compliance and risk management, employee benefits, compensation, workforce planning, talent development, employee relations, safety & wellness, education & training, payroll, communication, and company events.
As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director works closely with all department managers to educate, coach, and train in issues related to employee relations, leadership development, and workplace compliance. The Director also contributes to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and leading an inclusive approach to doing business.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
• Establish and implement short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures that support successful planning, development, and execution of human resource operations and related activities.
• Lead, manage, and oversee all human resource programs and activities including, but not limited to, legal compliance, workplace culture, employee benefits, compensation, workforce planning, talent development, employee engagement, employee relations, safety & wellness, education & training, payroll, communication, and company events.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; review and modify policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Provide opportunities for employee feedback and circulate actionable insights back to the organization to improve employee experience and workplace culture.
• Provide recommendations on compensation strategies for all positions, with the goal of achieving competitive market positioning.
• Analyze and present employment data, trends, and recommendations to remain relevant and competitive.
• Establish and communicate key performance indicators for human resources.
• Develop, manage, and monitor department budget.
• Identify staffing needs and ensure effective and inclusive planning, recruitment, hiring, onboarding, retention, and termination processes and practices.
• Effectively manage performance development and improvement efforts aligned with company values and goals.
• Effectively lead a high-performing team by selecting, developing, coaching, and retaining talent, and set objectives that align with company strategy to inspire and engage.
• Represent the organization and brand with employees, customers, community, and business partners.
• Maintain regular communication with employees to keep them updated on company news, benefits, workplace initiatives, opportunities, and other relevant information.
• Serve as LCC Health & Safety Officer.
Qualifications:
Education/Professional Credentials
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but significant, relevant experience (especially in combination with applicable education and training) will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• SPHR and/or SHRM-SCP, preferred
Experience
• Seven or more years of human resource leadership and management experience, with a strong preference for knowledge of manufacturing industry.
• Demonstrated leadership in building, leading, and managing high performing teams that collaborate well in a dynamic environment.
• Experience in a B Corp or values-driven organization highly valued.
Skills/Abilities:
• Proven ability to successfully manage similar responsibilities in a remote environment.
• Skilled at inspiring and supporting a collaborative team that cares about creating an amazing employee experience and long-lasting relationships.
• Ability to develop organizational plans, budgets and programs that align with company values and direct resources to meet company goals.
• Ability to attract, interview, and hire, or help others hire, talent at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to communicate department performance and other business information clearly and accurately to the CEO, President, and other senior managers to ensure appropriate decision making and prioritization.
• Superior communication (oral, written, and interpersonal), training, delegation, negotiation, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to cultivate, analyze and translate employee insights to help identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Well-versed in digital tools and technology needed for effective communication, presentations, analysis, and management of HR data.
• Strong business acumen, including budgetary and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in HR, culture, talent management, and employment law.
Attributes:
• Discretion and confidentiality
• Adaptability
• An understanding and appreciation for socially responsible business practices
• A respectful and appreciative approach to working with people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds.
• Strategic and critical thinker who is action oriented, collaborative, and exudes a high degree of optimism, curiosity, and emotional intelligence.
Travel requirements:
• Occasional travel between LCC locations (Burlington, Williston, and Waterbury)
• Infrequent travel to workshops, conferences, seminars
To apply for any position: Please send a cover letter, resume, and list of three references to: employment@lakechamplainchocolates.com. We offer a generous total compensation package. Yes, chocolate included!
Lake Champlain Chocolates is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, place of birth, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, crime victim status, health coverage status, HIV status, military or veteran status, and any other protected classification under applicable federal, state or local protected class.