Sanitation Specialist (Days)

SunOpta, Inc.; Midlothian (TX); On-site; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid family leave

Paid maternity leave

401(k) with Match

Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Ill

Hospital indemnity

Paid Holidays

Tuition assistance

Short-term Disability

Long-term Disability

Job summary

SunOpta in Midlothian, TX is hiring a Sanitation Specialist to lead plantwide cleaning and sanitation tasks across multiple lines. You will train operators, supervise CIP work, perform 36hr and weekly care duties, and ensure GMP/SOP compliance.

Day shift, 6 am to 6:30 pm, with a $30.00/hour pay rate and comprehensive benefits. High school diploma required; scissor lift certification and basic math skills preferred. Join a safety‑driven team focused on quality manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Must have basic math skills.
• Mechanical and troubleshooting skills are expected.
• Must be able to read and write in English.

Responsibilities

• Train operators on cleaning filler and downline equipment and inspect for quality.
• Lead shift huddles to organize cleaning tasks.
• Audit cleaning tools, chemicals, PPE usage, and ensure proper documentation.
• Perform plantwide sanitation duties including CIP, 36hr and weekly care tasks.
• Operate a floor scrubber and assist with CIP preparations.

Skills

Math skills

Mechanical aptitude

English literacy

Safety awareness

Floor scrubber operation

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Floor scrubber

Scissor lift

Job description

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 (filling, downline, mixing, and extraction), production leads, and production supervisors to successfully complete:

• Filler CIP (Clean in Place), assembly, and inspection for all lines
• 36hr care
• Weekly care
• Downline machine cleaning & inspection for all lines
• Accumulators
• Cappers
• Case Packers
• Westrocks
• Palletizers
• Daily/Weekly Master Sanitation tasks for:
• Mixing- all rooms
• Extraction
• Alcoves
• Raw Receiving
• Filling
• Downline

Essential Functions Of The Job

• Train operators on how to properly clean filler and downline equipment as well as inspect and audit filler and downline equipment.
• Able to lead shift huddles for filler and downline ops to 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 plantwide for operations/production.
• Have full knowledge of CIP and able to assist and train on CIP process.
• Able to assist and train operators on 36hr care and weekly care tasks such as; part replacements, work order completion/turn in, peroxide draining, lubrication, and deep cleaning.
• Prep fillers for CIP (prepare chemicals with correct titrations, secure CIP pipes, check out 36hr/weekly care kits from the parts room, etc.)
• Perform an initial inspection on fillers upstairs and downstairs.
• Assist in Pre-CIP and Post-CIP inspections with QA, supervisor and/or lead.
• Performing titrations 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 others on proper chemical and PPE usage.
• Able to assist and train operators on downline equipment cleaning.
• Perform downline 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.
• Able to create OPL’s and SOP’s to aid in all cleaning functions.
• Ability to operate a floor scrubber.
• Responsible for ensuring that the sanitation room is clean.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Python 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.
• Follows SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) and SSOP’s (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 the mixing and processing area.
• 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 member of 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.
• Must be scissor lift certified.
• Must be able to operate floor scrubber

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience

• Knowledge of filler machines and downline equipment.
• Knowledge of Raw, Mixing, Receiving, and Extraction.

Knowledge And Skills

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

Additional Considerations

• This position will be at the Plant in Midlothian, TX.
• Shift: This is a day shift (B) role on a 2-2-3 pattern, 6 am to 6:30 pm.
• Pay Rate: $30.00/hour.
• Travel Expectation: None as part of normal job requirements; but travel may occur per management due to training needs.
• Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

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