Sanitation Lead, Thursday - Sunday 6:00am-6:00pm

Thrive Freeze Dry; Oak Creek (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Thrive Freeze Dry is seeking a Sanitation Lead to oversee plant sanitation, inspect equipment for compliance with federal and state sanitation laws, and ensure readiness for production. The role includes coaching sanitation technicians, updating SOPs, and driving sanitation improvements in equipment and practices.

The ideal candidate will train and mentor team members, uphold our core values, and maintain strict adherence to food safety standards in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Attention to detail is required to complete tasks accurately and efficiently.
• Strong communication skills to explain concepts clearly and escalate when needed.
• Ability to think critically and exercise good judgment in sanitation decisions.
• Willingness to cross-train with other sanitation team members and share knowledge.
• Maintain documentation and records of sanitation activities and training.
• Demonstrate commitment to safety culture and food safety policies.
• Develop and follow processes and policies to strengthen internal controls.
• Proficient use of MS Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Word).
• Ability to work well with multiple teams to maintain relationships and collaboration.
• Appreciate and uphold work-life balance in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead sanitation activities across plant sanitation operations.
• Inspect equipment for conformity to sanitation laws and readiness for production.
• Coach and mentor sanitation technicians and team members.
• Assist in creating and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Operate lifting equipment for overhead cleaning (IE Boom lift, scissor lift, forklift).
• Identify sanitation improvements in equipment, layouts, lighting or work practices.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Communication

Critical Thinking

Cross-train

Documentation

Safety Culture

Process and Policies

Microsoft Office

Teamwork

Work-Life Balance

Tools

Forklift

Boom lift

Scissor lift

Job description

Job Title: Sanitation Lead

Department: Sanitation

Reports to: Sanitation Supervisor

The ideal candidate will possess and live by Thrive Foods core values.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• ACCOUNTABILITY
• INTEGRITY
• PERSONAL GROWTH AND WELLNESS
• TEAMWORK
• WORK – LIFE BALANCE

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Sanitation Lead engages in all duties related to the sanitation of the plant. The Sanitation Lead inspects equipment for conformity to federal and state sanitation laws. They will perform the cleaning of equipment and inspection of all working parts for conformity to federal and state sanitation laws to ensure readiness for production use. This role is responsible to clean work areas in a manner that avoids damage and destruction to our facility. This role will inspect the premises for unsanitary practices and conditions and escape to management and production personnel regarding sanitation concerns or issues. The Sanitation Lead will recommend changes in equipment, plant layout, lighting or work practices to improve sanitation standards or purity of the product. They will operate lifting equipment for overhead cleaning including IE Boom lift, scissor lift and forklift. The Sanitation Lead will coach, mentor and develop Sanitation Technicians and Sanitation team members. They will assist in the creation of Standard Operating Procedures and also update as needed. This position will be responsible for elevated responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES:

Living Mercer Values Demonstrates the characteristics and behaviors of an individual who is living Mercer's values. Mercer's values are accountability, continuous improvement, integrity, personal growth and wellness, teamwork, and work-life balance.

Attendance:

Attendance is essential in demonstrating dependability. A reliable team member is on time for all scheduled shifts and is present as scheduled. Any team member with two or more active steps of discipline for attendance does not meet expectations of position.

Performance:

Demonstrates the skills and abilities to perform his or her job. Any team member with two or more active steps of discipline for any combination of disciplinary actions does not meet expectations of position.

Safety

Good judgement is demonstrated at all times to maintain a safe work environment. Any team member with two or more active steps of discipline for safety related incidents does not meet expectations of position.

Training:

Current training is an indication of job preparedness from a safety, job skills, and food safety perspective. An employee that has completed all training expectations throughout the year as it pertains to his or her job requirements demonstrates that he or she meets the expectations of his or her position. A person that has past due trainings does not meet the expectations of his or her position.

Skills

Attention to Detail Completes tasks efficiently and accurately while paying close attention to detail.

Change Management Is responsible for constructing, developing, and launching new ideas while training others on the best practices.

Communication Possesses strong communication skills and can explain complex concepts in ways everyone can understand. Is often seen as having strong interpersonal skills.

Communication Escalation Escalates issues to manager or other management as needed.

Critical Thinking Forms good judgement when evaluating situations and reacting accordingly.

Cross-train Seek to gain and pass knowledge amongst team members by training to skills and tasks.

Documentation Maintain proper documentation and records.

Emotional Intelligence Has strong demonstrated skills of self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship management in our work environment.

Employee Relations Provides employee coaching and development. Makes employment decisions. Resolves employee issues through problem resolution.

Microsoft Office Ability to use all MS applications such as Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Word.

Process and Policies Develop and document processes and policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.

Productivity Balances quality, productivity, cost, safety and morale to achieve positive results in all areas. Works to continuously improve in all areas.

Relationships Works with all teams to maintain effective relationships.

Safety Culture Prioritize a culture of safety and ensure ongoing communication of safety related priorities, champion process improvements with a focus on elimination of preventable workplace incidents.

REQUIREMENTS:

The ability to test cleaning chemicals for titration strength. Forklift certification or the ability to be certified. The ability to operate and maintain hand tools for equipment setup, floor scrubbers and buffers is a requirement. The ability to read and interpret documents, operation manuals efficiently and communicate effectively is a requirement. The ability to read and understand measuring tools such as a tape measure, feeler gauges and micrometers are required.

Food Safety Requirements

• Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Mercer Food’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to Mercer Foods food safety & sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
• In the absence of lead, serves as back up to ensure all food safety, quality objectives and SQF system requirements are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity: 20% or more sitting, 70% or more walking, and 70% or more standing. The job is performed under some temperature variations and in a food manufacturing production environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.

Product Safety And Quality

• Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety, quality, and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety, quality, and sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety or quality incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
• Adheres to and ensures Product Safety and Quality standards are followed.
• Adheres to and ensures GMP’s regarding food contact packaging as it pertains to the employee.
• Adheres to and ensures Thrive’s food safety, product defense standards and quality objectives complies with all SQF system requirements.