Quality Sanitation Supervisor

About Us

Foremost Farms USA is one of the largest, leading dairy cooperatives in the United States and major dairy food and ingredients manufacturing business. We represent hundreds of Midwest dairy farmer members located in seven Midwest states, and we produce about 500 million pounds of cheese and 50 million pounds of butter in plants across our network every year. "We Bring Dairy to Life" in eight manufacturing plants across Wisconsin and Michigan and in our headquarters in Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin; and we’re looking for employees who are innovative and aim for excellence in our wide variety of production, field and business roles. Join us!

About This Opportunity

JOB TITLE: Quality Sanitation Supervisor

POSITION TYPE: Full time

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

Position Overview

The Quality & Sanitation Supervisor is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the plant sanitation programs and procedures to ensure compliance with corporate policies, regulatory, and customer requirements.

They will act as the contact for all location-specific sanitation operations and practices, ensuring compliance with corporate quality procedures. This position will provide support in the laboratory by covering open laboratory technician shifts.

Key Accountabilities

Ensure sanitation activities are performed and completed to effectively optimize manufacturing processes.

• Develop and implement Sanitation Standard Operation Procedures (SSOPs) and ensure employee adherence.
• Act as a technical resource to address and resolve sanitation inquiries and issues at the facility.
• Collaborate with chemical suppliers and coordinate sanitary review.
• Ensure all Clean in Place (CIP) changes are documented and communicated.
• Lead, coordinate, and monitor the completion of sanitation validations.
• Oversee the completion of all required production paperwork (records, inventory, inspection, sanitation reports, processing changes, work orders, etc.)
• Participate in safety efforts including attending safety meetings, incident investigations, assisting in root cause analysis, and auditing.
• Ensure compliance and administration of company policies and procedures.
• Prepare, conduct, and document sanitation-related employee training.
• Maintain supplies, tools, and equipment.
  
  

Provides support to the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager and plant management to ensure consistency and maintenance of high-quality products, proper food safety and quality performance.

• Identifies and coordinates the resolution of production related quality issues. Investigates root cause and implements corrective actions for customer complaints and out of spec products including downgrades and reclassifications.
• Acts as a technical resource to address and resolve inquiries and issues regarding production or quality and assists with problem solving process.
• Participates in cross-functional teams to ensure the continuous, on-going improvement of processes, methods, productivity, GMPs, and quality while reducing costs.
• Performs trace exercises/mock recalls on all materials (packaging, raw ingredients, finished products).
• Serves as the backup to the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager.
• Assists in developing and maintaining current FSQA programs to ensure compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
• Performs pre-shipment reviews and release of finished product.
• Oversees and coordinates activities of the environmental monitoring programs.
  
  

Serves as the backup to the laboratory technicians during routine time off from work and department openings.

• Prioritizes and prepares lab samples for testing and shipment to other labs and customers.
• Prepares necessary reagents, microbial culture media, and controls according to standard formulas.
• Conducts sampling in the production environment including but not limited to environmental pathogen sponges, ATP swabs, clean equipment and operational swabs.
• Performs analytical tests and completes required documentation for samples, incoming, and finished products.
• Accurately enters test results into R12 and other utilized databases.
• Participates in Proficiency Testing program and achieves satisfactory results for analytical and microbiological samples.
• Cleans, sterilizes, and maintains laboratory equipment and waste.
• Follows established guidelines and criteria when performing retests.
• Complies with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)s.
• Interprets lab results and escalates out of spec or suspect results to leadership staff.
• Participates in laboratory investigations when needed.
• Places product on hold if quality or food safety issue is identified
  
  

Provides support and participates as needed in internal, customer and regulatory agency visits and audits, including accompanying visitors and accommodating their requests.

• Maintains the SQF certification and compliance of the plant, laboratory, testing equipment and laboratory technicians as needed.
• Maintains SQF Practitioner, PCQI, and other certifications as needed with responsibility for food safety and quality at the plant.
• Performs final review of FSMA and regulatory documents as the Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI).
• Performs internal food safety and quality audits in accordance with the SQF program to ensure compliance with company standards.
• Manage environmental sanitation programs and assist with regulatory inspections and external audits.
  
  

This role is accountable for ensuring that monitoring and/or verifying of control points occurs and that the required documentation is completed. For example, Critical Control Points(CCP), Preventive Controls(PC), Critical Quality Points(CQP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points(HACCP), and Safe Quality Food(SQF) plans. This is not an all-inclusive list.

Minimum Qualifications

• 2-5 years of job-related experience
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately and efficiently.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to successfully interact and communicate with internal cross-functional teams, and all organizational levels.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Food Science or related field of study, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in sanitation, QA/QC, or laboratory in a food manufacturing field.
• General knowledge of sanitation, GMPs, and quality systems associated with food manufacturing, dairy preferred.
• Demonstrates good judgement in decision-making.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
  
  

Key competencies

• Facilitate trusting relationships through effective communication, follow through on commitments, resolving conflicts and recognizing the good work of others.
• Regularly challenge the status quo by identifying opportunities for improvement, challenging the current state, and understanding that change and growth are ongoing.
• Demonstrate growth-oriented qualities by asking questions, being curious open-minded, agile, learning from failures and inspiring others to do the same.
• Develop innovative solutions by bringing and supporting new ideas and thinking.
• Organize work with plans, goals and timelines, prioritization, and time management.
• Communicate to share relevant information proactively and brings others along.
  
  

Physical Setting

Job Setting: Plant Laboratory, Production Floor, Plant Office

Benefits

Because you and your family matter, Foremost Farms offers some of the best benefits in the area! Our comprehensive medical plan includes health, vision, dental, and prescription insurance. You can choose to enroll in a single or family plan with low monthly premiums and low annual deductibles ($250/$500). Other benefits include:

• 401(k) with a generous company contribution (100% match on up to 8% deferral)
• Paid time off, starting at 200 hours (25 days)
• 10 Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave (6 weeks paid at 100%)
• Flexible spending accounts – for medical and dependent care (childcare) expenses
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Referral program
• Advancement opportunities!
  
  

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Foremost Farms we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled are encouraged to apply.

At Foremost Farms USA, we believe that employee diversity brings strength to our organization. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Successful completion of pre-employment screening is required, which could include a drug test, background check, and other verifications or assessments to be sure you will be able to succeed in your position.

Are you ready to Be Foremost?

Apply today at