Food Plant Sanitation Specialist

Location: City of Poughkeepsie

Role Overview Help safeguard food quality by cleaning and sanitizing production and packaging equipment every day. You’ll work within SSOP, HACCP, FDA, GMP, and Safety guidelines to keep our manufacturing facility spotless and compliant. This role reports to the Sanitation Supervisor and may act as the Supervisor’s backup when needed.

A Day in the Life Start by reviewing assignments with the Sanitation Supervisor and the Master Sanitation Schedule (daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly). When the Supervisor is away, you may verify technician task sheets and the sanitation schedule, and provide direction to other technicians.

Prepare your area: gather chemicals and tools, confirm chemical storage remains clean, orderly, and safe.

Disassemble, clean, sanitize, and reassemble food-processing machinery. You’ll focus on conveyors, mixers, fillers, cookers, packaging lines, and more.

Operate sanitation and cleaning equipment: pressure washers, foaming units, COP tanks, floor scrubbers, chemical dispensing systems, power scrubbers, foamers, and a forklift.

Remove trash and debris from processing, packaging, and dock areas; respond quickly to any spills of product or foreign material.

Clean and sanitize restrooms, offices, break rooms, conference rooms, and locker rooms when the contracted cleaning service is not present.

Extend your reach beyond the lines—clean floors, walls, racking, doors, and maintain building exteriors, grounds, lighting, and parking lots.

Verify equipment cleanliness through visual inspections and established sanitation verification procedures, documenting your work and any corrective actions.

Continuously remove residues, allergens, and debris from equipment and facility surfaces.

Complete other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor.

What You’ll Bring Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively, with a focus on safety and procedure compliance.

Comfort following written and verbal instructions and accurately completing sanitation documentation.

Proficiency with industrial cleaning equipment operation.

Physical Expectations Standing or walking throughout the entire shift.

Frequent lifting up to 50 pounds, plus regular carrying, twisting, bending, and stooping.

Why It Matters Your work keeps our products safe and our operations running smoothly. If you take pride in meticulous cleaning, precise documentation, and teamwork, this is where you can make a daily impact.