Operations Lead

Pay Rate: $33.37 

Schedule: 5:30am – 6:00pm

Shift A 12- hour - 2-2-3, rotating weekends

Reports To: Carrie Roberts

SunOpta Overview:

SunOpta Inc. is a leader in the plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing industries. SunOpta is focused on sustainability and specializes in the sourcing, processing, and packaging of organic, conventional, non-GMO food products.

SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Job Summary:

The Operations Lead will be required to providing support to the leadership team and employees at the site. Performs fill-in duties that will assist the team in the production of aseptically packaged products in a safe, clean work environment. As well as all functions relating to operating the production equipment used to manufacture food products.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Leadership and ownership of the department, job responsibilities and job function.
• Serve as a source of technical knowledge and expertise for the production line.
• Assists in the development of standard operating procedures, trains employees and project development.
• Performs all jobs in the area as necessary to cover breaks, PTO, and training.
• Assume the responsibilities of shift supervisor in his/her absence.
• Monitors and fixes faults as well as clearing any material jams in equipment.
• Conducts required quality checks to assure standards are met.
• Maintain clean and organized area around equipment.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operating difficulties involving area equipment.
• Perform routine and corrective maintenance on all machines.
• Support mechanics in appropriate maintenance activities.
• Accurately prepares and maintains all area paperwork.
• Proficient and comfortable using a computer.
• Performs a variety of quality and food safety checks to ensure standards and specifications are met.
• Prepare, distribute, and maintain records and paperwork related to assigned tasks.
• Audit quality, safety, and other processes.
• Works with management to ensure effective organizational design and roles are correctly organized, defined, documented, and communicated to all employees.
• Assist in the development of standard operating procedures, train employees and project development.
• Communicate to all other facility personnel regarding any delays or problems that would hinder production.
• Must follow all employee safety, food safety and quality procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Responsible for proper shift handoff with incoming/outgoing operators.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
• All other duties as assigned.

Key Accountabilities:

Safety

• Adheres to all plant safety rules
• Reports all near misses and accidents to the production supervisor and or HR representative
• Serves an active role the plant safety programs, by participating in monthly safety inspections and reporting any potential safety hazards to the safety committee or Management

Quality:

• Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines
• Follows SOP’s and SSOP’s (standard operating procedures and sanitation standard operating procedures) when making processing adjustments, to ensure the manufacturing of high-quality liquid-based products.
• Responsible for compliance with GMP’s, HACCP and SQF programs
• Identifies all critical control points (CCP) understanding their functions it relates to the process.
• Accurately prepares and maintains processing area documentation. Writing legibly and completely filling out all documents. Operators name must be signed on each document used.

Maintenance

• When Maintenance is occurring in your work area, it is the expectation to assist the Maintenance Technicians in any capacity needed to expedite the repair process.
• When equipment is in a state of disrepair these items must be reported ASAP to avoid break downs.

Housekeeping

• Maintain a clean and organized work area
• Assists all areas of the plant with general housekeeping
• Cooperates with other shifts and the management team in housekeeping endeavors

Communications

• As a member of the Production team, ensures effective shift communication and teamwork with other operators occurs each scheduled shift.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the support group.
• When utilizing the Handheld radios employees are expected to be professional and respectful when communicating.

Teamwork and Training

• Promotes and contributes to the development of a strong team.
• Works well among co-workers as a team.
• Assist in coaching and training employees as requested by the management team.

Personal Development

• Continuously improve your knowledge of the Aseptic Filling process.
• Become familiar with SunOpta 360.
• Completes and adheres to the Annual Alchemy Schedule.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Fill in as needed in the absence of the shift supervisor

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Associates degree or higher preferred; or two to five years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in Food Manufacturing environment preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

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.

• Works with minimal amount of supervision
• Able to evaluate a situation and make a good decision
• A desire to succeed and good work ethics are required.
• Excellent oral and written skills.
• High-energy, flexible, self-starter, hands on, comfortable with little or no administrative support.
• Attention to detail.
• Team player with a sense of urgency and a self-accountability mentality.
• Flexibility to cover other shifts and weekends, as needed.
• Understands procedures for all allergens and how to prevent cross contamination
• Must be able to prepare and maintain accurate paperwork.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve moderate to complex issues associated with the processors and related equipment.
• Ability to assess a situation and make quick and accurate decisions that will aid in production
• Must adhere to all GMP's and Safety Procedures established by Management
• Understand terminology related to the process and surge equipment
• Must be able to stand and work for long periods of time (12) hours and lift a minimum 30-50 pounds frequently and push/pull pallet jacks and lifts with heavy loads

Knowledge and Skills:

Working knowledge of business, computer, and math, preferred. The candidate must be able to work effectively in a team-based environment, set priorities to meet deadlines, handle multiple tasks, and make decisions under pressure being able to work with minimal or no supervision.
 

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics/physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to wet and / or humid conditions (non-weather); moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally sit, lift, push, pull and/or move up to 50 pounds regularly and up to 75 pounds occasionally. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, grasp, type; reach with hands and arms; lean, crouch, stoop, kneel, or crawl; climb up and down ladders or stairs. The employee is required to stand and walk. The employee is required to climb and operate a three-story machine several times per hour.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED