Sanitation Technician

Job Title: Sanitation Technician
Location: Vermont Creamery
Pay Rate: $22.60/hour
Schedule: Sunday–Thursday | 5:00 PM – 1:30 AM (Overtime as needed)

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Quality Manager, the Sanitation Technician supports all aspects of the plant sanitation program, including master sanitation, hygienic design, environmental monitoring, and internal auditing. This role ensures that all products are manufactured in a clean, sanitary, and compliant environment in accordance with corporate, customer, and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, self-motivated, and comfortable working flexible schedules, including extended hours or shift changes based on business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and help maintain an effective and fully implemented sanitation program across the facility, including processing equipment and support areas.

• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, customer requirements, GFSI standards, and all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

• Assist in investigations of environmental positives, including root cause analysis, vector swabbing, and documentation of corrective and preventive actions.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for the 3rd Party Sanitation Partner, ATP meter supplier, and Corporate Sanitation Manager.

• Manage inventory and ordering of non-consignment sanitation chemicals, tools, utensils, and PPE.

• Identify, evaluate, and implement new sanitation tools and equipment as needed.

• Ensure ATP meters are properly functioning and repaired in a timely manner.

• Review 3rd Party Sanitation Partner reports and ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented and documented.

• Create, update, validate, and maintain SSOPs and sanitation documentation.

• Partner with Maintenance and Plant Management to support updates and improvements to CIP systems.

• Assist with investigations of out-of-spec microbiological results in products or the plant environment.

• Conduct accurate and timely record reviews, including CIP charts, sanitation logs, and master sanitation records.

• Maintain and manage the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) to ensure effective and efficient cleaning frequencies.

• Track, trend, and report sanitation metrics (e.g., MSS adherence, environmental monitoring results) to plant leadership and Corporate Sanitation.

• Conduct and document hygienic design reviews for new or modified equipment and coordinate corrective actions as needed.

• Participate in continuous improvement and loss reduction initiatives.

• Actively participate as a member of the HACCP team.

• Maintain and update environmental monitoring swab location lists and conduct environmental swabbing as required.

• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in food plant sanitation.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Experience writing and maintaining SOPs and SSOPs.

• Basic knowledge of hygienic design, quality management systems, and microbiological or analytical lab environments.

• HACCP training required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Food Science/Technology, Food Sanitation, or a related field (preferred, not required).

• PCQI training.

• Knowledge of FDA, State, and local regulations related to food and dairy sanitation.

• Experience managing sanitation programs and performance metrics.

• Mechanical troubleshooting experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Highly motivated, self-directed, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy.

• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

• Ability to follow manufacturer specifications and written procedures.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.

• Ability to work in hot and/or cold conditions.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs independently and 26–150 lbs with mechanical assistance.

• Required use of PPE including safety glasses, hard hat, safety-toed shoes, and other protective equipment.