Cleaning & Sanitation Technician

Overview

Hacienda Mexican Foods is seeking a dependable, hardworking, and detail-oriented Cleaning & Sanitation Technician to help maintain a clean, sanitary, and food-safe manufacturing environment. This position is essential to ensuring tortilla and tortilla chip production equipment, food-contact surfaces, work areas, and facility spaces are properly cleaned, sanitized, and ready for safe production.

The ideal candidate takes pride in maintaining high cleanliness standards, follows food-safety and sanitation procedures, and is comfortable working in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Essential Responsibilities

• Clean and sanitize tortilla and tortilla chip production equipment, machinery, conveyors, utensils, packaging lines, food-contact surfaces, workstations, and other production areas.

• Clean and sanitize floors, walls, drains, ceilings, and other facility areas according to established sanitation procedures and schedules.
• Perform wet and dry cleaning procedures in accordance with established SSOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures).
• Disassemble and reassemble production equipment as needed to ensure thorough cleaning and sanitation.
• Remove food debris, flour, corn, dough, oil, grease, buildup, and other product residue or contaminants.
• Inspect equipment, food-contact surfaces, and work areas after cleaning to ensure established sanitation standards are met.
• Assist with pre-operational inspections and complete corrective cleaning as needed before production begins.
• Follow all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP procedures, food-safety policies, allergen controls, SSOPs, and company procedures.
• Safely operate and maintain sanitation equipment, including pressure washers, foamers, scrubbers, hoses, and other approved cleaning tools.
• Safely handle, use, label, and store cleaning chemicals, sanitizers, and other sanitation supplies following required training and procedures.
• Wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow chemical, equipment, and workplace safety requirements.
• Identify and report sanitation issues, food-safety concerns, equipment damage, maintenance needs, quality concerns, and safety hazards to the appropriate supervisor or department.
• Complete sanitation checklists, inspection forms, cleaning logs, chemical records, and other required documentation accurately and on time.
• Maintain sanitation tools, equipment, supplies, and storage areas in a clean, organized, and sanitary condition.
• Work closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and Sanitation leadership to support safe and efficient operations.
• Participate in safety meetings, food-safety training, sanitation training, and other required training programs.

• Perform other cleaning and sanitation duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.

• Previous experience in food manufacturing, sanitation, janitorial, industrial cleaning, or a similar environment is preferred but not required.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and established procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to cleanliness, food safety, and quality.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
• Ability and willingness to safely learn and handle cleaning chemicals after proper training.
• Willingness to work flexible shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends, and overtime as needed.

• Food manufacturing or sanitation experience is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.

• Frequently bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, climb stairs, and perform repetitive motions.
• Lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Lift and carry sanitation materials, supplies, and equipment as required.
• Work around water, wet floors, cleaning chemicals, food-processing equipment, and manufacturing machinery.
• Safely operate approved ladders or platforms when required.
• Work in wet, humid, hot, cold, and noisy environments.

• Wear required PPE, which may include gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, hearing protection, and slip-resistant footwear.

Work Environment

This position works primarily in a tortilla and tortilla chip manufacturing facility and may involve:

• Wet floors and frequent water use.

• Cleaning chemicals and sanitizing agents.
• Food-processing machinery, conveyors, and production equipment.
• Hot, cold, humid, and wet production areas.
• Noise from manufacturing equipment.
• Working around flour, corn, dough, oil, and other food-production materials.
• Evening and night sanitation shifts.

• Occasional weekends and scheduled overtime.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means consistently completing sanitation assignments safely, thoroughly, and on schedule. The successful candidate maintains GMP and food-safety standards, properly cleans and sanitizes equipment and facility areas, accurately completes required documentation, identifies and reports potential concerns, and ensures production equipment and work areas are clean and ready for safe startup.

What We Offer

• Training provided

• Opportunities for advancement
• Stable work environment
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Sick Pay

• Employee discounts

Hacienda Mexican Foods is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, qualifications, and individual performance without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties and responsibilities may be modified based on business needs.