TITLE: Manager, Sanitation

REPORTING TO: Quality Manager

LOCATION: Walton, NY

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is currently seeking candidates to join our team in Walton, NY. 

Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do.

If you’re looking for a unique experience with a company that offers strong brands, professional expertise, and a dynamic work environment that champions entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on responsibility, and real opportunity for career development, we want to hear from you!

Lactalis Heritage Dairy: inviting you to share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE.

From your PASSION to ours

This position manages and oversees the effective implementation of the sanitation program at the LHD Walton Facility. This includes the assessment of the CIP system design, system capabilities, ownership of cleaning methodologies, maintaining the chemical inventory based on performance and monitoring trends, and lastly, verification and validation of the cleaning program for continuous improvement.

The position reports directly to the QA Manager and supports in the decision-making process of selecting/modifying CIP systems, reevaluating processes and methodologies for continuous improvement and Capital Investment projects related to the area.The overall goal of the position is to ensure the effective management of plant cleaning, sanitation and the compliance of the programs and equipment with GMP’s, legal, statutory & safety practices, corporate sanitation policies and procedures.

This is a salaried, exempt position with one direct report (Supervisor).

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Lead capital project execution related to sanitation programs and equipment.
• Oversees the effective implementation of the sanitation programs and practices while ensuring compliance to budget, times, and efficiency.
• Defines goals and KPI’s for the sanitation area ensuring alignment with functional and plant objectives.
• Analyzes data and trends related to cleaning verification and validation activities, triggering appropriate corrective and preventive actions to ensure adherence to product food safety and quality requirements.
• Monitors, audits, and adjusts, the cleaning systems/procedures to ensure optimal cleanliness of processing lines, packaging lines, and surrounding areas.
• Visits and/or audits the 3rd shift sanitation practices on a minimum quarterly basis.
• Participates in the preparation of operation shut down weeks and sanitation practices that occur during those weeks.
• Troubleshoots closely with management and production personnel on sanitation problems; recommending changes to improve sanitation policies, procedures, and cleaning effectiveness.
• Performs comprehensive sanitation audits on each unique production process to determine sanitation effectiveness.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of the Master Validation Plan and verification programs.
• Hire and train new personnel as needed, ensuring competency levels are appropriate.
• Serves as a technical resource for the facility on sanitation and press control issues and opportunities.
• Develops and executes plans to increase the cleaning effectiveness in addition to identifying & implementing opportunities to reduce cost within the operation.
• Ensures Employee & Food Safety and Sanitation Programs are developed, adhered to and executed with excellence by all sanitation personnel.
• Ensures, in collaboration with QC Manager, that an accurate and effective inventory of chemicals is on site and that this inventory meets the cleaning goals of the plant.
• Oversees sanitation schedule and approved SSOP’s reflecting process improvements that maintain or improve pre-operational and operational hygienic conditions.
• Reviews and maintains sanitation documentation for Quality Assurance and regulatory review.
• Builds partnerships with production, quality, and human resources to ensure production and people goals are met.
• Provides leadership and direction for sanitation team in their execution of responsibilities in sanitation tasks and objectives with focus on overall food safety, performance, planning, scheduling and cost control.
• Responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Member of the Food Safety Team, providing the expertise on sanitation and cleaning validation processes

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following

• BSc Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Food, or similar)
• 5+ years minimum experience in sanitation processes in a food manufacturing facility is required.
• 5 years’ experience leading direct-reporting team members is required.
• Required specialized knowledge
• CIP Design and Operation
• Effective and proficient communicator, both written and verbal
• Business acumen includes problem solving and analysis.
• Able to manage time through efficient planning and organizing of daily work.
• Strong desire to train, coach and develop others to improve performance.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in work required.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Personal qualities of tact and dependability and the ability to work well with others in a team environment is required.
• Knowledge of basic engineering calculations to define CIP parameters (flow) in systems.

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.