Sanitation Specialist

Cayuga Health is the region's leading healthcare system, empowering its people and employing capabilities to equitably improve the well-being of the communities served. Located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region, Cayuga Health offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, attractive working conditions, and professional development opportunities.

About the Role

The Materials Handler is responsible for inventory management, procurement support, receiving, storage, and distribution of food and non-food supplies for the Nutrition Services Department. This position maintains appropriate inventory levels using Just-in-Time purchasing principles while ensuring product quality, regulatory compliance, and efficient departmental operations. Additionally, this role serves as the department's sanitation specialist, maintaining a clean, safe, and survey-ready environment in all storage, receiving, and support areas.

Responsibilities

• Inventory & Receiving
  • Conduct daily inventories and maintain established par levels.
  • Place food and non-food supply orders while minimizing waste and excess inventory.
  • Receive, inspect, verify, and properly store all deliveries using FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory rotation.
  • Inspect deliveries for quality, temperature, damage, expiration dates, and accuracy prior to acceptance.
  • Coordinate vendor credits and replacements for damaged, missing, incorrect, or poor-quality products.
  • Monitor inventory for quality, shelf life, and stock rotation.
  • Assist with emergency preparedness inventory and supply management.
  • Escalate procurement issues, shortages, or supply chain concerns to leadership.
• Sanitation & Regulatory Compliance
  • Maintain clean, organized, and survey-ready storage areas, receiving docks, coolers, freezers, chemical storage areas, and supply rooms.
  • Complete daily, weekly, monthly, and deep-cleaning assignments according to departmental schedules and proactively as needed.
  • Monitor storage areas for compliance with food safety standards, including proper food separation, labeling, FIFO rotation, pallet storage, aisle clearance, sprinkler head clearance, pest prevention, chemical storage, and temperature requirements.
  • Ensure receiving and storage areas remain clean throughout deliveries and are restored to sanitary condition following truck unloading.
  • Remove cardboard, pallets, recyclables, and waste promptly to reduce fire, pest, and safety hazards.
  • Identify and report sanitation, maintenance, safety, pest control, or regulatory concerns requiring corrective action.
  • Assist with product recalls, storage audits, temperature monitoring, inventory audits, and survey preparation activities.
  • Maintain documentation required for sanitation, receiving, and inventory processes.
  • Safely operate pallet jacks, carts, and other material handling equipment.
  • May be required to travel off-site to obtain supplies or products when operationally necessary.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in a similar role.

Preferred Qualifications

• ServSafe Food Handler Certification (preferred) or ability to obtain within six months.
• Knowledge of healthcare food safety regulations, sanitation practices, inventory control, and receiving procedures.
• Experience preparing for regulatory surveys and maintaining survey readiness.
• Experience with inventory or purchasing software or vendor websites.

Physical Requirements

• Standing for long periods of time, lifting up to 50 pounds, sitting, pushing, pulling, and reaching.
• May be exposed to areas of extreme heat or cold, loud noises, wet and slippery conditions, and sharp objects.
• A licensed ability to drive may be necessary.

Schedule

Full-time, days.

Pay

$17.00 to $23.00 per hour.

Location

Onsite at Schuyler Hospital - 220 Steuben Street, Montour Falls, NY 14865. May require occasional off-site travel to obtain supplies or products.