Sanitation Technician

Michael Foods, Inc. is a leader in the food processing and distribution industry with business in egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products. We offer exciting job possibilities throughout our organization where you can enhance your career, sharpen your talents and make an impact. Join our company and be part of an innovative team that’s First in Food.

Michael Foods, Inc. located in Lenox, Iowa and often called the "Pearl of the Prairie" is where you can find small town living, focused on family and friends, with big city amenities not far from reach in Des Moines, Omaha, and Kansas City. Located in southwest Iowa, Taylor county, with a population of around 1400, the Lenox area reaches far beyond the city limits with beautiful and productive fields of corn, beans, and other croplands. Lenox holds an amazing four day Rodeo every July and is home to a beautiful 36-9 hole golf course, several fishing and boating lakes, great area hunting, a beautiful city park with swimming pool, and many picnic parks. The MFI location in Lenox produces primarily pre-cooked egg patties. With its friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and progressive spirit, Lenox is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

The Sanitation Technician is responsible for the effective and consistent execution of cleaning and sanitation activities within assigned areas of the facility. This role is essential in supporting daily operations by ensuring a clean, safe, and compliant manufacturing environment. The primary focus of this position is to protect employee health, food safety, and product quality through the thorough understanding and application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), and all plant policies and procedures. The work performed in this role directly impacts the safety and integrity of the food supply, benefiting employees, customers, and consumers by ensuring the production of safe, high-quality products. This position is responsible for strict compliance with all safety rules and is expected to actively promote and reinforce Safety as a Core Value. Additionally, this role ensures that all Food Safety & Quality policies, procedures, and activities are consistently followed to reduce product and process variability and maintain regulatory compliance.

This position has the responsibility to comply with Safety work rules at all times as well as an obligation to reinforce Safety as a Core Value. Ensures that all policies, procedures and activities, related to Food Safety & Quality, are followed and complied with uniformly, in an effort to reduce product and process variability.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Disassemble, clean, sanitize, and reassemble production equipment in accordance with established procedures and sanitation standards.
• Clean and sanitize production lines, processing areas, and facility infrastructure using tools such as pressure sprayers, foamers, and other sanitation equipment.
• Assist with equipment setup and start-up following completion of sanitation activities.
• Support Clean-Out-of-Place (COP) processes and other sanitation systems as required.
• Accurately complete all required documentation, including sanitation records and checklists, in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with team members and cross-functional partners to ensure efficient and effective sanitation execution.
• Support production operations as needed while maintaining sanitation and food safety standards.
• Accountable for a safe and healthy workplace for everyone. Adhere to all safety policies and procedures and incorporate safety and health in all jobs and tasks.
• Adhere to Quality work practices, follow GMP’s, maintain sanitary conditions and ensure that product quality is maintained. Report to management any conditions or practices that may adversely affect food safety and quality.
• Identify and promptly report any conditions or practices that could negatively impact food safety, product quality, or employee safety.
• Maintain compliance with all regulatory, company, and customer requirements.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by leadership.

#firstinfood

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• No prior experience required; training will be provided.
• Previous experience in food manufacturing or sanitation is beneficial but not required.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read and understand basic written instructions, labels, and procedures.
• Ability to recognize similarities and differences between words, numbers, and sequences.
• Ability to communicate effectively through simple written and verbal communication.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division.
• Ability to work with common units of measurement such as weight, volume, distance, and
time.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to apply common sense and sound judgment to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to work within standardized processes while recognizing and escalating issues or
abnormalities.
• Ability to solve routine problems involving clearly defined variables in structured situations.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid driver’s license a plus.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of or ability to learn GMPs, food safety requirements, and sanitation
procedures.
• Basic mechanical aptitude, including the ability to disassemble and reassemble equipment
accurately.
• Ability to learn and follow Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.
• Ability to safely handle and apply sanitation chemicals in accordance with training and safety
guidelines.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly when reassembling equipment and verifying cleanliness.
• Ability to work in wet, humid, and temperature-variable environments.
• Willingness to wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to safely lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to operate or learn to operate sanitation tools and equipment.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

#firstinfood