Operations Lead

Midlothian Facility, 4126 Power Way, Midlothian, Texas, United States of America

Sun Opta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and food service providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, Sun Opta fuels customers’ growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, food service, and e-commerce channels across North America.

The Operations Lead will provide support to the leadership team and employees at the site, performing fill-in duties that assist the team in the production of aseptically packaged products in a safe, clean work environment and operating the production equipment used to manufacture food products.

• Leadership and ownership of the department, job responsibilities and job function.
• Serve as a source of technical knowledge and expertise for the production line.
• Assist in the development of standard operating procedures, train employees and project development.
• Perform all jobs in the area as necessary to cover breaks, PTO, and training.
• Assume the responsibilities of shift supervisor in his/her absence.
• Monitor and fix faults as well as clear any material jams in equipment.
• Conduct 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 prepare and maintain all area paperwork.
• Proficient and comfortable using a computer.
• Perform 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.
• Work 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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…