---
title: 'Inventory Associate at Tovala'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/inventory-associate-tovala-815-w-pershing-st-chicago-wazmmkt77c1j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-27'
---

# Inventory Associate at Tovala

- **Company:** Tovala
- **Location:** 815 W Pershing St Chicago, IL
- **Compensation:** $22/hr
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-27
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/tovala/7f354442-59f1-4a50-b92d-092aca018dbd

## Job description

We’re Tovala, a food-tech company reinventing home cooking to save consumers time. Through an innovative combination of hardware, software, and fresh food delivery, we make it incredibly simple for anyone to prepare and enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without sacrificing time to do whatever matters to them. Through our superior technology, product experience and food quality, we have separated Tovala from the busy pack of other meal delivery businesses. In the process, we’ve amassed a loyal, rapidly growing following and our retention, product engagement and customer NPS are all best-in-class. We’ve raised over $100mm from great investors like Left Lane Capital, Origin Ventures, Y Combinator and Comcast Ventures and have invested strongly in building a unique culture that fosters growth, personal development and camaraderie.

Position Summary: The Inventory Associate is responsible for all inbound and outbound products that hit our facility. Day-to-day operations include ensuring that incoming food and non-food deliveries are accurate and meet our high quality, safety, and consistency standards; and that incoming products are received via RF gun and properly stored daily. This individual will be upholding the organization and layout of the warehouse. You will oversee our inventory and notify buyers of shortages or damage of incoming ingredients. Good communication skills are imperative to this role so that procurement and production are notified promptly and can make accommodations accordingly. Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Direct drivers to unload deliveries in designated staging areas. Verify actual product received against initial PO and BOL. Confirm integrity of goods and flag FSQA team when necessary. Maintain receiving logs and verify products meet specifications (temps, quantities, and QC standards) and properly filling out FSQA documentation. Transfer and slot product in the correct warehouse location upon receipt–done on the day it was received Optimize pallet configuration and warehouse space to maximize storage and efficiency. Maintain warehouse organization to ensure the full production cycle runs smoothly and is set-up for next week's production. Facilitate warehouse resource management by ensuring equipment such as forklifts and floor scrubbers are functioning, charged, and ready when needed. Model compliance of Warehouse Safety. Provide support with production tasks during low volume receiving days. Assist facility maintenance projects and repairs, as necessary. Complete tasks as assigned on the daily schedule by the end of day. Other duties as assigned Competencies: Strong attention to detail Excellent communication skills Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and organizational skills Ability to use RF scanners and warehouse management system (WMS) Ability to learn and complete all shared responsibilities in the warehouse when assigned Education, Experience, Licenses and Certifications: Forklift Certification, or willingness to go through certification training Food Handlers certification Physical Demands Able to lift, push, or pull up to sixty (60) pounds Able to stand, bend, lift and move intermittently during shifts of 8+ hours Comfortable working in hot and cold temperature environments in kitchen, warehouse, and cooler/freezer Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A Food Safety Responsibilities: Report any food safety and quality problems to personnel with authority to initiate action. Follow and uphold procedures outlined in the Food Safety Plan and the Food Quality Plan and any other programs that support the SQF system and other 3rd party programs/audits. Work Environment: Production: Space can be crowded with manufacturing equipment. Must remain aware of Forklift traffic. Noisy; some areas can be dusty. May encounter extremes in temperatures.

Compensation & Benefits:

Tovala uses market data, geography, and placement of internal employees to determine salary. Additionally, we offer all employees real ownership in the company in the form of a competitive equity package.

- Paid time off (starting with 1 week in your first year)
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage we really invest in
- 401k with match
- Free Tovala Smart Oven and discounted Tovala meals
- 11 Paid holidays and our winter facility shutdown where the facility closes for a week around Christmas
- Various other perks - recognition programs, continued learning stipend, casual dress code, in-office coffee, snacks and drinks, and Tovala swag

## Our Values

> Put the Team First: We put what is best for the broader team ahead of what is best for ourselves or our immediate department.

> Get S#!t Done (Well): We celebrate people at all levels for delivering high impact work that expands the bounds of what we’re able to do.

> Connect the Dots: We engage with curiosity to learn how our work impacts others so that we can problem-solve holistically and work collaboratively.

> Be Direct: We share our perspective openly and directly, even when it feels difficult to do so.

> Embrace the Obstacles: We rise to meet challenges with a sense of urgency, resolve, and optimism.

> Champion the Customer: We consider and prioritize our customer in all of our decisions

At Tovala we‘re committed to building a workplace that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Everyone is welcome here!

## About Tovala

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Tovala reinvents home cooking by combining a smart countertop oven with a weekly meal delivery service to make delicious, convenient meals with minimal prep.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C)
- **Headquarters**: Chicago, Illinois, United States
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: David Rabie (CEO) and Bryan Wilcox (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Meal kit delivery, smart kitchen appliances, food-tech
- **Target customers**: B2C (time‑pressed consumers, families, health‑conscious individuals)
- **Mission**: “Reinvent how people eat & live” by saving them time without sacrificing food quality

## Products & Services
- **[Tovala Smart Oven / Smart Oven Pro]**: Countertop hardware that combines steam, air fry, bake, broil, toast, and reheat modes. The oven is WiFi‑enabled and can automatically scan QR codes on meal packages to cook with the perfect cycle.
- **[Tovala Meal Delivery Service]**: Weekly subscription offering 45+ meals per week in single‑serve, two‑pack, and family meal sizes (4‑, 6‑, 8‑, 10‑, 12‑, or 16‑meal plans). Prices start at $8.99/serving (two‑pack) up to ~$13.99 for single‑serve. Flat $10.99 shipping fee.
- **[Tovala App]**: Companion mobile app that stores cooking profiles, allows remote control of the oven, and includes a library of preset recipes for non‑meal‑kit items.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding = **$68.6 million** (as of 2024); annual revenue estimated between **$25 million – $100 million** (Indeed employer‑reported range)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Left Lane Capital (led Series C), Origin Ventures (led Series A), Y Combinator, Comcast Ventures, Finistere Ventures, OurCrowd, Rich Products Ventures, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, University of Chicago
- **Growth Signals**: Rapid scaling from a 2015 Kickstarter ($256k) to ~375 employees in 2024; best‑in‑class retention and customer NPS; expanded product line (Pro model with steam); introduced family‑sized meal options; remote‑first workforce.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Integrated hardware + software + food system**: The oven automatically identifies Tovala meals and sets the perfect cook cycle, eliminating guesswork. This closed‑loop experience creates high switching costs and strong subscription stickiness.
- **Convenience without sacrifice**: Meals require one minute of prep, cook in ≤20 minutes, and use fresh, seasonal ingredients designed by in‑house chefs – a strong differentiator from both traditional meal kits and frozen alternatives.
- **High customer satisfaction** (NPS, retention) cited as “best‑in‑class” by the company, supported by a 100‑day risk‑free trial of the oven.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale subscription base** while maintaining high retention and product engagement.
- **Expand meal variety and dietary options** (single, two‑serving, family meals) to capture more household types.
- **Grow remote‑first workforce** with a hybrid‑friendly Chicago headquarters to attract talent nationwide.
- **Continue hardware innovation** (e.g., steam cooking) to keep the oven relevant and differentiate from competitors.

## Why Work Here
- **Remote‑first culture**: Most employees work remotely; a Chicago West Loop HQ is available for those who prefer hybrid.
- **Equity for all employees**: Every full‑time team member receives company equity (stock options).
- **Comprehensive benefits**: Includes family medical leave, healthcare, and competitive compensation tied to market data and geography.
- **Growth environment**: Fast‑growing company (from 360 to 375 employees in recent years) with emphasis on personal development and ownership.
- **Transparency and respect**: Company values “good people who do good work” and prioritizes time in both corporate and food‑production settings.

## Sources
1. [Wikipedia – Tovala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovala)
2. [Tovala website](https://www.tovala.com/)
3. [Built In – Tovala Careers](https://builtin.com/company/tovala)
4. [Indeed – Tovala Company Page](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Tovala/about)
5. [Tovala Careers (Lever)](https://jobs.lever.co/tovala)

## Other roles at Tovala

- [Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist - Food Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/quality-assurance-qa-specialist-food-manufacturing-tovala-5041-w-2400-s-west-r5szwtz3ywxs) — 5041 W 2400 S West Valley City, UT
- [Production Assember (3rd Shift)](https://feeny.ai/job/production-assember-3rd-shift-tovala-815-w-pershing-st-chicago-h5qqhgk609e9) — 815 W Pershing St Chicago, IL
- [Plant Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/plant-manager-tovala-5041-w-2400-s-west-valley-city-ct5bvqnhj91e) — 5041 W 2400 S West Valley City, UT
- [Sanitation Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/sanitation-specialist-tovala-248-tubeway-drive-carol-stream-z1qdrrctz85e) — 248 Tubeway Drive Carol Stream, IL
- [Firmware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/firmware-engineer-tovala-1021-w-adams-st-chicago-gf5qy5cjy7rw) — 1021 W Adams St Chicago, IL
- [Director, CRM](https://feeny.ai/job/director-crm-tovala-chicago-il-or-boston-yt43pzxqz36t) — Chicago IL OR Boston, MA
- [VP of Product](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-of-product-tovala-chicago-sdherwb0hmxr) — Chicago, IL
- [Sr. Systems Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-systems-administrator-tovala-1021-w-adams-st-chicago-52597ndqgadq) — 1021 W Adams St Chicago, IL
- [FSQA (Food Safety Quality Assurance) Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/fsqa-food-safety-quality-assurance-manager-tovala-west-valley-city-qr8rbqxv1per) — West Valley City, UT
- [Part-Time Assembler](https://feeny.ai/job/part-time-assembler-tovala-248-tubeway-drive-carol-stream-1x3ht3he84eg) — 248 Tubeway Drive Carol Stream, IL