Description

Why you will love working at Maola:

• Built on over a century of dedication, Maola is always looking ahead—investing in our people, strengthening our communities, and securing fresh, local dairy for the future.
• Join a farmer-owned cooperative rooted in integrity, sustainability, and a passion for providing fresh, high-quality Maola dairy products.
• We prioritize your well-being with competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, Life Insurance, paid time off, and more—available within your first month.
• Our employees are an integral part of who we are — what you do and what you think matters.

Summary:

The Plant Sanitarian in the High Point Dairy production facility is responsible for ensuring a sanitary and safe environment by developing, implementing, and monitoring sanitation and hygiene practices. This role focuses on preventing contamination, maintaining compliance with food safety regulations, and supporting quality assurance efforts. The Plant Sanitarian works closely with facility staff and management to uphold cleanliness standards and protect public health with a continuous improvement mindset.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• EMP Program: Manage a robust environmental monitoring program to ensure successful compliance to sanitation and food safety requirements.
• Sanitation Program Management: Develop, implement, and oversee Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP's) and schedule to ensure all equipment, surfaces, and environments meet food safety standards.
• Inspection and Audits: Conduct routine inspections (General Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and GEMBA walk, etc.) of the facility, including production areas, storage rooms, and employee hygiene practices, to identify and address sanitation risks.
• Cleaning Validation: Verify the effectiveness of cleaning processes through swabbing, testing, and documentation to confirm the absence of pathogens, allergens, or residues.
• Pest Control: Coordinate with pest control vendors and monitor pest management programs to prevent infestations in the facility.
• Training: Train facility staff on proper sanitation techniques, personal hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE), and the correct use of cleaning chemicals and equipment.
• Incident Response: Investigate sanitation-related issues (e.g., contamination events) and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of sanitation activities, inspection results, and compliance reports for audits and regulatory reviews.
• Chemical Safety: Manage the safe storage, use, and disposal of cleaning agents and sanitizers, ensuring compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations.
• Collaboration: Work with quality assurance, production, and maintenance teams to align sanitation efforts with operational goals and downtime schedules.
• Other tasks as assigned by Sr. Food Safety and Quality Manager.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• At least a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology or Food Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in sanitation, food safety, or a related role within a food production environment.
• Dairy experience required, ice cream production experience preferred.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations (e.g., Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)) and sanitation standards.
• Certification as a Registered Sanitarian (RS) preferred.
• Microbial testing and pest control practice experience preferred

COMPETENCIES:

• Communication
  • Communicate clearly and effectively through multiple channels oral, written,
    visual, and non-verbal ensuring our messages are understood and delivered
    appropriately, whether in-person or digitally.
• Accountability
  • Take responsibility for actions and anticipate challenges before they arise.
  • Solve problems both within and outside of departments, proactively addressing issues as they occur.
• Customer Focused
  • Prioritize understanding and meeting both internal and external customer needs.
  • Ensure high levels of satisfaction and loyalty by anticipating customer
    requirements and striving for exceptional service.
• Initiative
  • Proactive in identifying opportunities and addressing potential threats.
  • Act independently and decisively, rather than waiting for situations to demand action.
• Problem-Solving
  • Possess the ability to identify and address complex issues with minimal guidance.
  • Skilled at analyzing challenges and finding practical, effective solutions.
• Collaboration
  • Take responsibility for deliverables while also supporting others to ensure that
    collective goals are met.
  • Able to work harmoniously with others toward a common goal, recognizing and
    valuing each person's contributions, is fundamental to successful collaboration.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to reach, bend, extend, and lift 50-60 pounds. It also requires reaching and handling dairy products and pushing and pulling stacks of products weighing up to 200lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The work environment may require working in the cooler room with varying degrees of temperature and may include contact with water or dairy liquids.
• Exposed to a noise level of 90 decibels. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate/high. Wet/slippery work conditions.

Maola Local Dairies is a farmer-owned cooperative sustainably producing a full suite of nutritious dairy products. Maola processes milk, cream, butter, and dry milk powders through our network of six dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities. For more information about Maola, please visit www.maolamilk.com.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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