Operations Lead

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 Operations Lead will be required to providing support to the leadership team and employees at the site. Performs fill-in duties that will assist the team in the production of aseptically packaged products in a safe, clean work environment. As well as all functions relating to operating the production equipment used to manufacture food products.

Essential Functions of the Job

• Leadership and ownership of the department, job responsibilities and job function.
• Serve as a source of technical knowledge and expertise for the production line.
• Assists in the development of standard operating procedures, trains employees and project development.
• Performs all jobs in the area as necessary to cover breaks, PTO, and training.
• Assume the responsibilities of shift supervisor in his/her absence.
• Monitors and fixes faults as well as clearing any material jams in equipment.
• Conducts required quality checks to assure standards are met.
• Maintain clean and organized area around equipment.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operating difficulties involving area equipment.
• Perform routine and corrective maintenance on all machines.
• Support mechanics in appropriate maintenance activities.
• Accurately prepares and maintains all area paperwork.
• Proficient and comfortable using a computer.
• Performs a variety of quality and food safety checks to ensure standards and specifications are met.
• Prepare, distribute, and maintain records and paperwork related to assigned tasks.
• Audit quality, safety, and other processes.
• Works with management to ensure effective organizational design and roles are correctly organized, defined, documented, and communicated to all employees.
• Assist in the development of standard operating procedures, train employees and project development.
• Communicate to all other facility personnel regarding any delays or problems that would hinder production.
• Must follow all employee safety, food safety and quality procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Responsible for proper shift handoff with incoming/outgoing operators.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
• All other duties, as assigned.

Key Accountabilities

Safety

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

Quality

• Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines.
• Follows SOP's and SSOP's (standard operating procedures and sanitation standard operating procedures) when making processing adjustments, to ensure the manufacturing of high-quality liquid-based products.
• Responsible for compliance with GMP's, HACCP and SQF programs.
• Identifies all critical control points (CCP) understanding their functions it relates to the process.
• Accurately prepares and maintains processing area documentation. Writing legibly and completely filling out all documents. Operators name must be signed on each document used.

Maintenance

• When Maintenance is occurring in your work area, it is the expectation to assist the Maintenance Technicians in any capacity needed to expedite the repair process.
• When equipment is in a state of disrepair these items must be reported ASAP to avoid break downs.

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 member of the Production team, ensures effective shift communication and teamwork with other operators occurs each scheduled shift.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the support group.
• When utilizing the Handheld radios employees are expected to be professional and respectful when communicating.

Teamwork and Training

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

Personal Development

• Continuously improve your knowledge of the Aseptic Filling process.
• Become familiar with SunOpta 360.
• Completes and adheres to the Annual Alchemy Schedule.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Fill in as needed in the absence of the shift supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED.
• Two to five years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher.
• Experience in Food manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of business, computers and math.

Knowledge and Skills

• Works with minimal amount of supervision.
• Able to evaluate a situation, attention-to-detail, and ability to make decisions independently.
• A desire to succeed and good work ethics are required.
• Excellent oral and written skills.
• High-energy, flexible, self-starter, hands-on, comfortable with little or no administrative support.
• Team player with a sense of urgency and a self-accountability mentality.
• Flexibility to cover other shifts and weekends, as needed.
• Understands procedures for all allergens and how to prevent cross contamination.
• Must be able to prepare and maintain accurate paperwork.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve moderate to complex issues associated with the processors and related equipment.
• Ability to assess a situation and make quick and accurate decisions that will aid in production.
• Must adhere to all GMP's and Safety Procedures established by Management.
• Understand terminology related to the process and surge equipment.
• Must be able to stand and work for long periods of time (12) hours and lift a minimum 30-50 pounds frequently and push/pull pallet jacks and lifts with heavy loads.

Additional Considerations

• Location: This position will be at the SunOpta Plant in Midlothian, TX.
• Shift: This will be a night shift position (C-Shift / Mixing) on a 2-2-3 pattern; 6 pm to 6:30 am.
• Pay Rate: $32.20 / hour.
• Night Shift Differential: $2.00/hour shift differential offered for working 12-hour night shift on 2-2-3 pattern.
• Work Environment: The majority of this role will be in a food manufacturing environment.

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 listing 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