Sanitation Lead

Under the direction of the supervisor and manager, the Lead directly supervises and works alongside sanitation crews to ensure effective cleaning and sanitizing of (1) production processing equipment, (2) production packaging equipment, (3) idle equipment, (4) silos, and (5) the facility. The Lead is also responsible for maintaining required documentation and supporting applicable company programs.

• The duties of this position are those described below. This job description does not state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management.

Essential Duties

These duties directly and substantially serve to achieve the purpose of the position.

· In charge of overall cleaning duties within production areas such as flour, corn, and fried sections, as well as maintaining cleanliness throughout the company grounds.

· Participates in supervising hourly employees.

· Serves as a frontline leader between processing and packaging personnel.

· Monitors the performance of employees working under his/her direction.

· Maintains the self-esteem and engagement of employees working under his/her direction.

· Leads by example at all times.

· Verifies that all personnel are present, fit for duty, and appropriately assigned.

· Verifies that GMPs and safety standards are maintained at all times; takes action and/or follows up when deficiencies are noted.

· Obtains the schedule and necessary work materials; distributes work among sanitation personnel.

· When necessary, issues verbal or written warnings for violations.

· Promotes teamwork and a constructive work environment.

· Assists in training new personnel.

· Ensures safety regulations, policies, and procedures are followed.

· Works directly with the sanitation crew during general clean-ups.

· Ensures all job tasks are completed safely and in compliance with work instructions and procedures.

· Operates a forklift and scissor lift as required.

· Assists the department supervisor with pre-operation inspections prior to releasing equipment to the Quality Assurance department.

· Ensures sanitation employees perform work in accordance with work instructions and job descriptions.

· Performs general clean-up of all production equipment.

· Verifies that all silos (including the bottom section and top cover) are clean.

· Distributes necessary sanitation materials at the beginning of the shift.

· Assists department heads in conducting safety and communication meetings with the sanitation crew.

· Trains new sanitation employees on safety, work instructions, chemical and material usage, and proper cleaning methods.

· Takes weekly inventory of stocked materials and reports needed items to the department manager.

· Checks sanitation rooms 1 and 2 for cleanliness and organization before departure at the end of the shift.

· Manages sanitation and food safety documentation (e.g., master sanitation schedule, SSOPs, chemical logs, pre-op/ATP records) as assigned.

· Ensures assigned areas are well maintained and audit-ready at all times.

· Ensures compliance with QA requirements related to environmental limits, pre-op results, and ATP results.

· Supports continuous improvement initiatives, including WCM and 5S, within the department.

· Leads and verifies SSOP execution, including correct tool selection, disassembly/reassembly as required, and proper cleaning/sanitizing methods for food-contact surfaces.

· Verifies correct chemical handling, mixing, labeling, storage, and use in accordance with SDS, site procedures, and regulatory requirements.

· Supports allergen and cross-contact prevention by ensuring changeover cleaning is completed per procedure and verifying removal of product residue, powders, and rework as applicable.

· Coordinates and/or performs ATP swabbing and environmental monitoring sampling (as assigned) and ensures timely documentation, communication of results, and follow-up actions.

· Initiates corrective actions for sanitation and food safety non-conformances (e.g., re-clean, re-sanitize, re-inspect) and documents actions taken.

· Supports internal and external audits and regulatory/customer inspections by ensuring sanitation records are complete, controlled, and readily available.

· Ensures lockout/tagout (LOTO) and equipment safety procedures are followed before cleaning and during re-assembly/start-up preparation.

· Supports pest prevention and facility hygiene by ensuring effective cleaning of floors, drains, overheads, and hard-to-reach areas; reports structural or sanitation issues for follow-up.

· Communicates sanitation status and outstanding issues to production, maintenance, and QA to ensure effective shift handoffs and timely release of equipment.

· Completes required sanitation and food safety records accurately and on time (e.g., MSS/SSOP sign-offs, pre-op forms, chemical concentration logs, ATP/EMP logs, corrective action reports) and submits/archives documentation per site requirements.

· Reports sanitation, food safety, and equipment conditions that could impact product safety or quality (e.g., positive/failed results, missed tasks, damaged equipment, pest activity, chemical issues) to QA, Maintenance, and management; documents notifications as required.

· Reviews sanitation documentation for completeness and legibility; corrects errors per good documentation practices and follows up with employees when gaps are identified.

· Provides shift turnover reporting (verbal and/or written) including completed work, outstanding items, issues found, corrective actions, and equipment release status.

· Maintains controlled sanitation documents (SSOPs, checklists, schedules) by using the current approved versions and communicating needed updates/changes through the established document control process.

· Tracks sanitation and food safety trends/KPIs (e.g., repeat failures, ATP pass rate, re-clean frequency, missed tasks) and reports results and improvement opportunities to leadership and QA.

· Procurement of materials necessary for cleaning operations and oversight of budgetary expenditures.

· Other duties as assigned.

· Enforce company policies and procedures

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma, GED or Equivalent required. 2 years of Sanitation experience in a manufacturing facility required. Preferably in a food/beverage environment. *Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience may be considered for the above.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Experience with regulatory inspectors (AIB, BRC, OSHA, Military, Health Department, EPA, City & County Inspectors). MS proficiency
• Familiar with Lean Manufacturing and GMP’s, HAZMAT,
• Forklift certified
• Knowledge of chemicals use to clean and sanitize the entire plant
• Knowledge of HAZMAT
• Ability to communicate effectively to all employees.
• Willingness to learn and teach new tasks.
• Initiate and/or assist in quality improvement and corrective action system.
• Minimum of 1 year training frontline employees.
• Delegate functions to those who work under his/her direction.
• Computer Skills / Possesses strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Good Math skills
• Able to operate machinery
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs
• Ability to work in a wet environment
• Ability to climb ladders/stairs and to work in high altitudes
• Ability to work in greasy area
• Able to withstand different climates-including high temperatures
• Must be able to stand for long periods of time
• Bilingual-English/Spanish (Required)

Shift: Variable

Starting Hourly Pay: $28.36 + shift differential, OT, 7 Holidays, & Vacation Pay

Full Benefits Packet includes the following: Health, Vision, & Dental insurance, Life & AD&D insurance, Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance, 401(k) & matching, Flexible spending accounts, Dependent Care FSA and Health Care FSA, Referral & Retention Bonus Programs, Uniform & Shoe Allowance.

Gruma Corporation and its affiliates, including but not limited to Azteca Milling, L.P., are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law. The information collected by this application is solely for the purposes of determining suitability for employment, verifying your identity, and maintaining employment statistics on applicants. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as state and local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity with-out imposing undue hardship on Gruma. Please inform the company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

At Mission, we believe that good food can take you places. From our humble beginnings as a small tortilla factory in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles to becoming a global brand recognized worldwide, we’ve always strived to help you explore the endless possibilities of tortillas and tortilla chips.

Since 1977, Mission® has been creating fresh, authentic Mexican food products you can find in your local grocery store including Guerrero, Maseca and Calidad to name a few. Mission®, a subsidiary of Gruma Corporation, is the #1 tortilla company in the U.S. and manufactures a variety of authentic Mexican products. As we’ve grown, we’ve made sure to always put an emphasis on authentic flavors, while providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together.