Equipment and Changeover Supervisor

Job Summary

The Set Up & Sanitation Supervisor is responsible for overseeing production line setups, material staging, changeovers, and sanitation activities to ensure equipment and production areas are clean, compliant, and fully prepared for safe and efficient operations.

This role serves as a critical control point for preventing contamination, allergen cross-contact, and material or labeling errors by ensuring proper sanitation, line clearance, and setup verification prior to production startup.

Primary Responsibilities

Line Setup & Changeover Execution

• Oversee all line setups and changeovers to ensure readiness for scheduled production. 

• Ensure complete removal of prior products, labels, and materials before new production begins. 

• Coordinate sanitation and set up activities to eliminate cross-contamination risk.

• Verify correct equipment configuration, tooling, and line clearance before startup. 

• Ensure efficient and timely changeovers to minimize downtime. 

• Track, measure, and record change over efficiency and identify and streamline change over performance.

• Document and routinely update change over procedures, settings, and training when any changes are needed.

Sanitation Oversight (Critical Function)

• Supervise sanitation technicians and ensure all cleaning activities are completed thoroughly and on schedule. 

• Verify execution of SSOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures) for all equipment and production areas. 

• Conduct and document pre-operational inspections to confirm equipment is clean, dry, and ready for use. 

• Ensure proper chemical usage, dilution, and handling in accordance with safety and food safety standards. 

• Partner with Quality to address sanitation deficiencies and implement corrective actions. 

• Ensure sanitation activities meet GMP, HACCP, and regulatory requirements. 

Team Leadership

• Supervise setup technicians and sanitation team members. 

• Assign tasks and ensure accountability for setup accuracy, sanitation quality, and timeliness. 

• Train employees on setup procedures, sanitation protocols, GMPs, and safety standards. 

• Reinforce a culture of accountability around food safety and operational discipline. 

Coordination & Communication

• Work closely with Wave Planner, Packaging Supervisor, Maintenance, and Quality teams to align schedules and priorities. 

• Communicate setup readiness, sanitation status, delays, and risks proactively. 

• Ensure smooth handoff between sanitation, setup, and production. 

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all safety protocols, including PPE, chemical handling, and equipment safety. 

• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards. 

• Maintain accurate documentation for sanitation logs, line clearance, and setup verification. 

• Support internal and external audits. 

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to reduce changeover and sanitation time without compromising quality. 

• Improve standardization of setup and sanitation procedures.

• Support root cause analysis for contamination risks, setup errors, or inefficiencies.

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, preferably food production; background as a machine operator or in a maintenance/technical role strongly preferred. 

• 1–3 years of leadership or supervisory experience. 

• Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, sanitation practices, and allergen control. 

• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude with the ability to troubleshoot equipment malfunctions, make minor adjustments, and understand machine mechanics. 

• Strong attention to detail and ability to enforce process discipline. 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. 

• Experience writing SOPs, conducting root cause analysis (5 Why/fishbone), and leading or participating in SMED projects. 

• Preferred: hands-on experience as an operator or technician on vacuum receivers, auger fillers, horizontal labeling machines, and/or Mespack horizontal form-fill-seal machines.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 50 lbs. 

• Exposure to food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans). 

• Exposure to cleaning chemicals and wet environments. 

• Ability to work flexible shifts, including nights and weekends as needed.