Quality Assurance Hygienist, Part Time, Vermont Creamery

Hygienist

Under direction of the Quality Assurance Supervisor, the Hygienist is responsible for providing guidance and support in the areas of sanitation, master sanitation, hygienic design, and environmental monitoring. The hygienist must be able to work flexible hours across various shifts according to business needs on short notice and for extended periods of time.

Location: Websterville, VT

Hours: Up to 29 hours weekly, flexibility on days and hours worked

Wage: 25.54/hour

Land O’Lakes, Inc offers a competitive salary and bonus potential. The company also provides a comprehensive benefits package as well as other company sponsored benefits.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct environmental swabbing activities as directed
• Responsible for ensuring corrective and preventive actions are put in place for issues identified by 3rd Party Sanitation partner.
• Responsible for inventory and ordering of all non-consignment sanitation chemicals.
• Track and trend sanitation metric performance (e.g. Master Sanitation schedule adherence, environmental monitoring performance, etc.) and report metrics out to the plant leadership team, and Corporate Sanitation. Work closely with the appropriate Supervisor(s) to ensure gaps in Master Sanitation Schedule completion and Sanitation records are addressed and closed.
• Where needed, assist the Quality Assurance Supervisor with investigation of instances of out of specification microbiological results in product and in the plant environment. Assist with root cause analysis and assist with ensuring timely and effective corrective and preventive actions are put in place.
• Responsible for, in partnership with WC1 / Butter Supervisor, and chemical supplier, making relevant updates to Vermont Creamery CIP systems as needed.
• Primary liaison and point of contact with chemical and ATP meter suppliers.
• Update and maintain environmental monitoring swab location list
• Actively participate in continuous improvement projects and loss reduction initiatives as directed by Vermont Creamery leadership.
• Assist in the investigation of any environmental positives to determine root cause and preventive measures (vector swabbing, etc.).
• Ensure Sanitation program is fully compliant with all corporate, customer, GFSI, and regulatory requirements (Federal, State, and local).
• Ensure effective/efficient cleaning frequency is achieved through a robust MSS (Master Sanitation Schedule). Coordinate activities with the Sanitation Team and Operations to ensure consistent completion. Ensure that this cleaning program aligns Corporate policies and procedures, as well as with any regulatory (Federal, State, Local) requirements.
• Create, update, and validate SSOP’s and sanitation forms to ensure all equipment, areas, and cleaning activities are captured and properly documented.
• Responsible for ensuring ATP meters are working properly and repaired in a timely manner as needed.
• Active member of the Vermont Creamery HACCP team.
• Ensure the Vermont Creamery Sanitation program is fully and effectively implemented, monitored, verified, and validated to ensure all products are manufactured in a sanitary environment. This includes assessment of the sanitation and hygiene of the facility environment as well as all processing and supporting equipment / areas.
• Responsible for conducting accurate and timely record review, including CIP charts, sanitation records, and master sanitation records and maintaining sanitation records in an organized manner.
• Identify, establish, and implement a master sanitation program that mimics a PM program which includes automatic scheduling, auditing, and reporting.
• Other projects and activities as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Experience:

• B.S. Degree in Microbiology, Food Science /Technology, Food Sanitation or related field preferred, but not required.
• Experience writing standard operating procedures (SOP’s, SSOP’s, etc.) required
• Basic knowledge of hygienic design, quality management, competent in analytical / microbiological lab environment.
• At least one year of experience in Food Plant Sanitation required.
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) required

Competencies, Skills, and Knowledge:

• PCQI training preferred, but not required
• Excellent organizational, communication, interpersonal and team interaction skills
• Proficiency in relevant State and FDA related regulations; dairy sanitation, and microbiology strongly preferred, but not required.
• Highly motivated, self-directed and a self-starter.
• HACCP training preferred, but not required
• Proficient in sanitation program management and metrics preferred, but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Use of safety glasses, hard hat, safety toed shoes, and other PPE required.
• While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to reach, handle or feel, talk, and hear.
• Ability to occasionally lift a minimum of 25 lbs and 26-150 lbs with assistance of equipment.
• While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.