Lead Cellar Technician

Position Title: Lead Cellar TechnicianReports to: Production SupervisorDepartment: CellarsClassification: Full-time, Non-Exempt (Hourly)Pay: $25.12 - $26.62 an hour

Corto Mission

To attract quality-oriented restaurateurs with consistently superior olive oil, keep them through legendary service, and invest in talented people who share our dedication to customer success.

The Company

Corto Olive is a nationally recognized, family-owned company known for crafting superior olive oil for professional and home chefs.

If you take pride in the quality of your work and prefer working on a team of talented individuals who share your passion for excellence, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity! This is an hourly, full-time position located on-site at our Stockton Facility.

The Lead Cellar Technician supports the Production Supervisor to oversee and execute safe and effective handling and storage of all oil within the facility, maintaining quality. This role provides front-line leadership for daily cellar operations, including scheduling, task execution, and documentation. The Lead Cellar Technician is responsible for maintaining a clean, organized workspace and ensuring all cellar processes are performed accurately, on time, and in compliance with safety and quality standards.

This role typically works Monday - Friday. However, you will be required to work longer hours including the weekends during both the duration of Corto's olive harvest season and as needed throughout the year. Corto's Harvest Season typically runs from mid-October to late November, with cellar activities going through December.

This position will be primarily responsible to:

• Lead and supervise a team of employees in the storage and movement of olive oil.
• Provide guidance, training, and support to team members to foster a positive and accountable work culture.
• Conduct shift huddles to communicate daily goals, schedule, and assignments according to supervisor and managers directions.
• Execute all cellar tasks with cellar team including but not limited to:
  Clean In Place (CIP), oil transferring, oil blending, sediment removal, oxygen purging, and related processes.
• Organize manpower based on production and shift needs.
• Verify all cellar equipment (valves, hoses, pumps, flowmeters) are clean and correct for each task.
• Continuously optimize and problem solve cellar processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness while maintaining product quality, reducing waste, and boosting productivity.
• Communicate and collaborate with key stakeholders across multiple departments.
• Maintain acceptable oxygen levels inside oil casks utilizing purging and sparging techniques.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of oil inventory and daily cellar tasks.
• Responsible for the cleanliness of the cellars and related areas.
• Responsible for the loading and unloading of oil deliveries.
• Develop, maintain, and update Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions.
• Track and communicate shift-level performance using established KPIs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years of cellar worker experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with team members.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to stay organized in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to plan, schedule, and troubleshoot problems.
• Basic computer proficiency in programs such as Excel, Word, E-mail, Microsoft Teams, and equipment control programs.
• Ability to operate the Forklift.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience leading a team and providing direction.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
• Familiarity with Industrial Manufacturing Equipment.
• Familiarity with Controls Systems, HMI, and dashboards.
• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing.

Physical Requirements
Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and moderate fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 25% or less sitting, 25% or more walking, and 50% or more standing. The job is performed under moderate temperature variations and in a manufacturing environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees.

The ability to lift up to 45 lbs. is required.

Wellbeing:

In addition to our solid track record as a stable, growing employer, we offer a variety of different benefits depending on your role:

• Physical Wellness - Medical plan options, Dental, Vision.
• Social Wellness - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Federal and State Leave of Absences.
• Development Wellness - Recognition, Development Training Programs, Succession Planning, Tuition Reimbursement.
• Emotional Wellness - Employee Assistance Program, People Operations Department
  -Open Door Policy.
• Financial Wellness - Competitive Salary, Performance based bonus, 401k Program, Life Insurance.
• Nutrition Wellness - Access to best-in-class tomato sauce and olive oil products.

Equal…