Sanitation Specialist (Days)

About SunOpta

SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.

Job Summary:

The Sanitation Specialist is responsible for facilitating routine cleaning, training, and master sanitation tasks plantwide. The Sanitation Specialist will work with all operators, production leads, and production supervisors for successful completion of sanitation tasks, documentation review and standard root cause analysis.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Train operators on how to properly clean processing equipment as well as inspect and audit cleanliness of department.
• Able to lead shift huddles for production team and help organize cleaning tasks that need to be completed during CIP and oversee that all tasks get completed in a timely manner.
• Responsible for auditing the cleaning tools and chemicals and able to train others in proper PPE and chemical usage.
• Facilitate MSS plant wide for operations/production.
• Have full knowledge of CIP and able to assist and train CIP processes.
• Able to assist and train operators on Operator Care sanitation tasks.
• Assist in CIP prep for departments.
• Troubleshoot Pre-CIP and Post-CIP inspection shortfalls with QA, supervisor and/or lead.
• Performing titration on chemicals being used and auditing chemical tags on buckets/bottles.
• Keeping cleaning supplies (Soil-Off, Eco wipes, San Duo Sanitizer, paper towels, scrub pads, and gloves) labeled and stocked in appropriate areas.
• Audit cleaning tools and brushes and replace or clean when needed.
• Ability to train proper chemical and PPE usage.
• Able to assist and train equipment cleaning.
• Perform equipment inspections and audits for cleanliness and CIL completion.
• Coaching operators on 5S to keep workstations/areas clean and clutter free.
• Ensure that all logs (CIP, MSS, peroxide) are filled out completely and correctly.
• Monitor the Chat in Redzone.
• Able to create OPL's and SOPs to aid in all cleaning functions.
• Responsible for ensuring that the sanitation room is clean.
• Responsible for weekly housekeeping plantwide.
• All other duties as assigned.

Key Accountabilities:

Safety

• Adheres to all plant safety rules.
• Reports all near misses and accidents to the Production Supervisor or HR representative.
• Serves an active role in the plant safety programs, by participating in monthly safety inspections and reporting any potential safety hazards to the safety committee or Management team.

Quality

• Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines.
• Follow SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and SSOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures) to adjust, to ensure the manufacturing of high -quality aseptic products.
• Responsible for compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Safe Quality Food (SQF) programs.
• Identifies all critical control points understanding their functions as it relates to production operations.
• Accurately prepares and maintains all area documentation. Writing legibly and completely filling out all documents. Operator's name must be signed on each document used.

Housekeeping

• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Assists all areas of the plant with general housekeeping.
• Cooperates with other shifts and the management team in housekeeping endeavors.

Communications

• As a support to the Production team, ensure effective shift communication and teamwork with the other operators occur for each scheduled shift.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the support group and all other departments.

• When utilizing the handheld radios employees are expected to be professional and respectful when communicating across all departments.

Teamwork and Training

• Promotes and contributes to the development of a strong team
• Works among coworkers as a team.
• Assist in coaching and training employees as requested by the management team.

Personal Development

• Continuous improvement of knowledge of the production areas
• Become familiar with SunOpta 360
• Completes and adheres to the annual alchemy schedule
• Complete Better Process Control School

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Understands and follows procedures for all allergens and how to prevent cross contamination.
• Must adhere to all GMP's and Safety Procedures established by Management.
• Ability to assess a situation and make quick, accurate decisions that will aid in production.
• Must have good personal hygiene.
• Must have basic math skills.
• Mechanical and troubleshooting skills - learn to perform and be involved with routine maintenance.
• Works with minimal amount of supervision.
• Must be able to evaluate a situation and make a good decision.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience

• 2+ years in Food Manufacturing environment, preferably in Sanitation

Knowledge and Skills:

• Must be able to read and write in English.
• Ability to use critical thinking to plan and solve problems.

Additional Considerations:

• Travel Expectation: None as part of normal job requirements; but travel may occur per management due to training needs.
• Location: SunOpta Plant at MN Street in Alexandria, MN.
• Shift: Monday-Friday; 5am-2pm. Some flexibility will be required to complete weekend validations, as needed.
• Pay Rate: The hourly pay rate for this role is $31.25/hour.
• Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Be around fumes, and allergens
• Ambient temperature environments
• Standing/Walking: Up to 12 hours per shift, often on wet or slippery surfaces.
• Bending/Stooping/Kneeling: Frequently required to clean under or around equipment.
• Climbing: Using ladders or steps to access elevated areas or clean overhead surfaces.
• Reaching and Stretching: To clean ceilings, high walls, or large equipment.
• Lifting/Carrying: Regularly lift 25-50 lbs. (e.g., cleaning supplies, equipment parts, waste).
• Pushing/Pulling: Moving equipment, carts, or hoses-can require significant force.

Featured Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED