Blender Lead

About the role

The Lead Blender is responsible for training, guiding, and supporting all Blenders. This role oversees the blending of products in accordance with individual work order specifications, while ensuring compliance with all safety protocols and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). The Lead Blender plays a key role in maintaining a safe, efficient, and positive work environment, with a focus on achieving daily production goals while upholding the highest standards of safety, quality, and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Uphold, teach, and enforce all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) related to production operations.
• Promote and enforce all safety and quality policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with all Blending Department policies and procedures.
• Train and guide employees on processing, changeovers, clean-up, and sanitation procedures per SOPs.
• Develop and train blending operators in all aspects of their roles.
• Coordinate and facilitate onboarding and training for new blending team members.
• Create, implement, and maintain an effective training program and schedule for blending operators.
• Conduct hands-on training for new blenders using blend instructions, SOPs, SSOPs, and other relevant documentation.
• Clean or verify the cleanliness of equipment before startup and during product changeovers.
• Ensure all batches are blended accurately according to Blend Instructions and Batch Formulas.
• Train staff on operating all manual, semi-automatic, and automatic systems based on product requirements.
• Prepare or verify processor recipes to meet product specifications.
• Record all critical processing parameters, including time, temperature, pressure, and volume.
• Collaborate with the QA department to complete tanker and batch analysis, batch adjustments, ATP testing, and allergen swabbing.
• Work with the Maintenance team to maintain blending equipment and the wastewater system.
• Monitor daily production schedules, perform clean-in-place (CIP) procedures as needed, and manage tanker offloading.
• Ensure all recording charts are operational and capturing data accurately.
• Review all blending documentation daily for accuracy and completeness.
• Confirm all ingredients are sealed, tamper-taped, weighed, cleaned, properly stacked on pallets, and wrapped post-production.
• Update the CIP board to track cleaning schedules and ensure equipment not in use is cleaned appropriately.
• Evaluate blending team performance and provide updates to Supervisors and the Batching Manager.
• Complete and document all cleaning tasks as required by the Master Sanitation Schedule or as assigned.
• Adhere to Continuum’s Good Documentation Practices (GDP) across all paperwork.
• Maintain a valid forklift certification and operate forklifts when necessary.