In person — Wilmette, IL About Us Homer's Ice Cream has been crafting small-batch, super-premium ice cream since 1935. We serve customers through our retail shop and supply handcrafted ice cream to wholesale partners across the region. Our company is built on tradition, quality, and craftsmanship. We are looking for someone who takes pride in doing things right and wants to grow their skills in a hands-on food production environment. Position Summary As our retail and wholesale volume continues to grow, we're adding a Production Assistant to support our Production Manager in daily ice cream production. This is a newly created position, not a replacement of any existing role — an active, floor-based job, not a desk position. You'll work directly in production — prepping ingredients, packaging finished product, keeping the production area clean and organized, and learning our processes from the ground up. This role is a growth opportunity: as you build experience and consistency, you'll cross-train on batch freezing and recipe execution with the goal of becoming our second backup Ice Cream Maker — extra coverage during busy stretches, planned time off, or whenever the team needs another set of trained hands. No prior ice cream-making experience is required to start, just a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn. Key Responsibilities Production Support Prepare and weigh ingredients, inclusions, and flavor bases for the Production Manager Assist with loading, running, and cleaning batch freezers and production equipment under supervision Fill and package finished product into pints, quarts, and 3-gallon tubs Help monitor batch consistency, texture, and quality alongside the Production Manager Packaging, Labeling & Fulfillment Accurately label and organize product for retail and wholesale orders Move finished product to walk-in freezers and maintain organized freezer storage Support pulling and staging wholesale orders for delivery Cleaning & Sanitation Follow food safety and sanitation standards at all times Clean and sanitize equipment, tools, and production surfaces between batches and at shift end Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production environment Assist with proper equipment maintenance and cleaning procedures Growth & Cross-Training Learn established recipes and standard procedures alongside the Production Manager Progressively take on more hands-on batch-freezing responsibility as skills develop Build toward serving as a second backup Ice Cream Maker, providing extra production coverage alongside the Production Manager Qualifications No prior ice cream production experience required — training provided Experience in a kitchen, food production, or manufacturing setting is a plus Strong attention to detail and ability to follow instructions and recipes precisely Comfortable working in a hands-on, physical food production setting Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in temperature-controlled/walk-in freezer environments Ability to work early mornings or production-based schedules, including some weekends as needed Dependable, punctual, and eager to grow with the company Working Conditions Food manufacturing / production environment Standing for extended periods Exposure to food processing equipment and temperature-controlled environments, including walk-in freezers May require early morning shifts, and occasional evenings or weekends depending on production needs Pay $18.00 - $24.00 per hour, based on experience Benefits Employee discount Flexible schedule On-the-job training Opportunities for advancement Professional development assistance To Apply Please include a short note describing any experience you have with kitchens, food production, or manufacturing environments — no ice cream experience necessary.
Job Type:
Full-time Work Location:
In person
Pay:
$18.00 - $24.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week
