Plant Sanitarian

Dairy-Farmers-of-America,-Inc.; Schulenburg (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dairy-Farmers-of-America,-Inc. seeks a Plant Sanitation and Pest Control Lead to manage sanitation programs, lead staff, and drive continuous improvement in a dairy facility.

You will standardize procedures, validate cleaning, and work with QA, maintenance, and production to ensure a food-safe environment. The role requires 3–5 years in dairy sanitation, strong leadership, knowledge of GMPs, and PCQI or willingness to obtain it; excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration are

Qualifications

• High School Diploma with 1-2 years of technical school completion.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• 3-5 years of food plant operational experience with sanitation experience.
• Leadership aptitude or supervisory experience.
• Experience with audits (regulatory, third party, customer).
• Knowledge of CIP/COP systems and process automation.
• Understanding GMPs and food safety basics.

Responsibilities

• Lead sanitation and pest control programs across the facility.
• Supervise Sanitation Leads and Technicians; develop standard work and training.
• Maintain Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) and oversee CIP/COP activities.
• Develop SSOPs; ensure forms and records are current.
• Perform internal sanitation audits and cleaning validations.
• Collaborate with QA, Safety, and Operations to improve sanitation KPI’s.
• Ensure safe chemical use and storage; manage contract service providers.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Audits/regulatory

Communication

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Training

English proficiency

Education

High School diploma

Tech school (1-2 years)

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Lead, manage, and develop the plant sanitation and pest control programs, systems, and procedures for the facility. Position has specific responsibility to standardize and continually improve sanitation, pest control, and related systems support for the facility. Lead sanitation efficiency including development of standard work, training, cleaning validation, identification of operational savings, line cleaning change-over and turn-around efficiencies supporting improvements in plant total delivered cost. Provide direct supervision to Sanitation Leads and Technicians.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Master Sanitation Schedules (MSS)
- Maintain, revise, and monitor the facility’s Master Sanitation Schedule. Work closely with production and maintenance personnel to establish effective and efficient sanitation activities necessary to maintain a food safe environment within the facility. Oversee CIP, COP, and facility and preventive cleaning and inspection of equipment
- Incorporate principles of dry as well as wet cleaning best practices, allergen management, and “allergen clean” vs. microbial clean as needed

Contract Service Provider
- Manage the site visits with the Sanitation contract service Ensure that entry and exit interviews occur and that all action items from reports are reviewed and agreed to. As needed, follow up with corrections, corrective actions, and/or capital requests as needed to ensure closure of action items
- Ensure that all chemicals are properly used and labeled. Manage inventory levels

Sanitation Standardized Operating Procedures (SSOP’s)
- Utilizing corporate SSOP’s as guidance, prepare plant specific SSOP’s for equipment and processes. Ensure all SSOP forms and records are current and completed. Incorporate visual learning and step-by-step processes which are easily followed and comprehended by staff

Cleaning Validation and Continuing Verification
- Develop pre-operational programs to visually inspect and swab equipment prior to putting back into Ensure all records are complete and compliant
- Perform internal sanitation audits
- Ensure all CIP validations are performed as required
- Ensure all sanitation tools, equipment, and delivery devices meet standards

Sanitation Training
- Provide education and technical support to assure effective deployment and implementation of corporate sanitation and food safety policies and procedures
- Assist with training program development to ensure comprehension of training
- Work with Safety Coordinator to maintain the MSDS program. Conduct periodic training for employees regarding warnings associated with chemical use. Maintain updated chemical lists and assure the safe storage and security of all cleaning chemicals

Pest Control Programs
- Manage pest control program and contract service provider. Ensure all siting logs and the pest control manuals and records are complete, current, and reviewed
- Ensure that entry and exit interviews occur and that all action items from reports are reviewed and agreed to. As needed, follow up with corrections, corrective actions, and/or capital requests as needed to ensure closure of action items

Sanitation Continuous Improvement
- Work cross functionally and collaboratively with DFA Operations, Corporate QA, Food Safety, and Chemical Supply Vendors to implement and continuously improve on sanitation programs, policies, and key performance indicators (KPI’s)
- Make recommendations for cleaning and chemical use optimization
- Utilize zone 1 pre-op data to support decisions on line run times
- Support QA Manager on effective sanitation programs that ensure mitigation of pathogens

Staff Supervision
- Provide direct supervision of sanitation lead and technician staff to include performance reviews, Kronos review and approvals, work scheduling, work delegation and review, coaching and training, disciplinary actions,

- The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Requirements

• High School Diploma with 1-2 years of technical school completion
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• 3-5 years of food plant operational experience with sanitation experience
• Leadership aptitude or team leadership/supervisory experience
• Experience with regulatory, third party, and customer audits
• Experience in successfully addressing environmental sanitation challenges in areas such as drains, floors, walls, roofs, and equipment
• Thorough knowledge and experience with diverse sanitizing applications
• Experience with dairy products, cheese and milk powders preferred
• Certification and/or License – Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification or attainment of PCQI within 6 months of hiring
• Extensive knowledge of CIP/COP systems and process automation
• Understanding of appropriate wet cleaning and dry cleaning methodology. Able to identify the appropriate cleaning method and make effective recommendations based on scientific principles
• Basic understanding of sanitary design of equipment and risk identification
• Understanding of chemical use and effectiveness
• Understanding of GMP’s, food safety basics, and the control of microorganisms
• Able to work collaboratively in a team environment with facilities, regulatory agencies, and customers
• Able to communicate well, both orally and written
• Able to understand issues in relation to product manufacturing operations and their impact
• Able to provide supervision, guidance, effective training, and counsel to others
• Able to effectively organize, coordinate and execute tasks and projects
• Able to understand food and environmental regulations and their impact on the organization and customers
• Able to understand technical documents, dilutions, percentages, and basic mathematical formulas for chemical concentrations
• Proven critical thinking, people and team development skills, strategic aptitude, and independent leadership skills
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Pay Range

$70000 - $90000 / year

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