Sanitation Technician CIP COP

Sanitation Technician / Sanitation Crew Member

Location: Arps Dairy – 220 N Clinton St, Defiance, Ohio 43512

Department: Operations / Quality

Reports To: Sanitation Supervisor or Production Supervisor

Shift: Early Morning Shift – Start Time: 4:00 AM and ability to do afternoon Shift if needed

Position Overview

The Sanitation Technician is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of sanitation and food safety throughout the dairy processing facility. This role ensures that all production equipment, processing lines, tanks, and plant areas are properly cleaned and sanitized prior to the start of daily production.

The technician must have hands-on experience operating Clean-In-Place (CIP) and Clean-Out-of-Place (COP) systems and must be comfortable working in a dairy processing environment where strict food safety, regulatory, and quality standards apply.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring the plant operates in compliance with SQF, FDA, and GMP sanitation standards.

Key Responsibilities Sanitation & Cleaning Operations

· Perform daily sanitation of production equipment, tanks, piping, fillers, and processing lines

· Operate and monitor CIP systems for pasteurizers, tanks, pipelines, and processing equipment

· Perform COP cleaning of removable parts, valves, fittings, pumps, and utensils

· Disassemble and reassemble equipment as required for proper cleaning

· Ensure sanitation procedures are completed before production startup

Chemical Handling & Procedures

· Properly mix and handle sanitation chemicals including caustic, acid, and sanitizers

· Monitor chemical concentrations, temperatures, and cycle times for CIP systems

· Follow plant chemical safety procedures and required PPE standards

· Maintain sanitation chemical inventory and notify supervisors when supplies are low

Food Safety & Compliance

· Follow all GMP, HACCP, and SQF sanitation protocols

· Complete sanitation logs and documentation accurately

· Support environmental monitoring and sanitation verification programs

· Report any sanitation, equipment, or food safety issues immediately

Facility Cleaning

· Clean floors, drains, walls, equipment surfaces, and production areas

· Maintain sanitation of production rooms, cooler areas, and packaging areas

· Assist with scheduled deep cleaning of processing equipment and facility

Equipment Readiness

· Inspect equipment after cleaning to ensure readiness for production

· Assist maintenance or production teams if sanitation issues are identified

· Ensure sanitation tools and equipment are properly cleaned and stored

Required Qualifications

· Minimum 1–2 years experience in food or dairy plant sanitation

· Demonstrated experience operating CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems

· Experience performing COP (Clean-Out-of-Place) cleaning procedures

· Familiarity with food safety standards such as GMP, HACCP, and SQF

· Ability to work in wet, cold, and physically demanding environments

· Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

· Ability to reliably work an early shift starting at 4:00 AM

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience working in a dairy or beverage manufacturing facility

· Understanding of pasteurization systems and dairy processing equipment

· Forklift certification (not required but beneficial)

· Experience with automated CIP systems and sanitation documentation

Work Environment

· Food manufacturing environment with exposure to water, cleaning chemicals, and temperature changes

· Use of required PPE including boots, gloves, aprons, and eye protection

· Physical work including lifting, bending, standing, and equipment cleaning

About the Facility

This position supports the continued growth of Arps Dairy and Barfresh operations in Defiance, Ohio. The facility produces a variety of dairy products and operates under strict food safety and quality standards to supply national customers.

Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• On-the-job training
• Paid time off

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)
• Night Shift (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $19