Factory Hygienist Specialist (Jacksonville, IL, US, 62650)

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.

At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Facility Hygienist provides leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction for the factory's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), sanitation, integrated pest management, hygienic design, environmental monitoring, and zoning programs. This role serves as the guardian of hygiene and sanitation compliance systems and ensures both the development and consistent application of the Quality Management System (QMS) throughout the facility in accordance with food safety and hygienic standards.

As a key member of the Quality Team, the Facility Hygienist partners cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and other functions to develop, implement, and continuously improve hygiene systems and programs. This position is responsible for building and strengthening sanitation and hygiene strategies, monitoring program effectiveness, driving compliance, and fostering a culture of food safety, quality, and continuous improvement across the factory.

The role requires advanced knowledge of sanitation, GMPs, environmental monitoring, pest management, hygienic design principles, and food manufacturing technologies. Through technical leadership and collaboration, the Facility Hygienist provides expertise and guidance to support operational excellence and regulatory compliance while proactively identifying opportunities to enhance food safety performance.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assure Food Safety and Compliance (30%)

Ensure Development of Competencies in Quality and Food Safety (30%)

Drive Zero Defect & No Waste (20%)

Ensure Consistency (20%)

• Serves as the guardian of food safety and hygiene for the factory by providing leadership, technical expertise, and support to achieve business and compliance objectives.

• Leads implementation and execution of factory Industrial Hygiene programs to ensure compliance with Nestlé corporate requirements, regulatory standards, and internal/external audit expectations. Areas of responsibility include sanitation and disinfection, integrated pest management, environmental microbiology, allergen and cross-contact prevention, foreign material control, hygienic design, and hygienic zoning.

• Provides operational and technical leadership for the design, implementation, validation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of hygiene and food safety programs across manufacturing processes and facility operations.

• Ensure factory sanitation programs are effectively implemented, validated, maintained, and verified to support the production of safe, sanitary, and high-quality products. Oversees sanitation effectiveness across processing equipment, support equipment, and internal and external facility environments.

• Validates Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) are established and maintained for sanitation activities, allergen management, and cross-contact prevention. Owns the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) to ensure cleaning frequencies are risk-based, effective, and sustainable.

• Coordinates sanitation activities with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Department Leadership to ensure consistent execution of sanitation procedures and compliance with Nestlé requirements and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

• Provides leadership for the factory Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program, ensuring effective implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement to maintain a pest-free environment. Serves as the site subject matter expert on IPM principles and practices.

• Serves as the primary site contact and technical liaison for third-party hygiene service providers, including sanitation and pest management partners. Establishes site-specific objectives, drives accountability to contractual requirements, and ensures effective collaboration to continuously improve program performance.

• Leads hygienic design and hygienic zoning programs for existing operations, facility infrastructure, capital projects, and new process installations. Provides technical guidance and risk assessments to ensure food safety risks are minimized throughout the facility lifecycle.

• Administers sanitation, GMP, and other hygiene-related inspection and assessment programs. Manages corrective and preventive action systems to address identified gaps, improve compliance, and drive continuous improvement.

• Leads identification, investigation, and resolution of hygiene-related issues through data analysis, trend monitoring, root cause investigations, and the development of preventive and corrective actions aligned with factory performance objectives.

• Coordinates and delivers training and development programs related to sanitation, GMPs, pest management, allergen management, hygienic design, environmental monitoring, and food safety systems. Ensures employees and contractors have the knowledge and skills required to execute hygiene programs effectively.

• Promotes food safety and hygiene awareness throughout the factory through coaching, training, communication forums, audits, and engagement activities that strengthen food safety culture and operational excellence.

• Partners cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Quality teams to proactively identify risks, improve hygienic conditions, and sustain compliance with food safety and quality standards.

• Acts as the factory subject matter expert for GMPs, sanitation, pest management, hygienic design, zoning, environmental monitoring, and food safety risk mitigation programs.

• Serves as the HACCP Program Owner and Food Safety Team Leader for the factory. Responsible for leading cross-functional food safety risk assessments, hazard analyses, HACCP plan development and maintenance, prerequisite program verification, validation activities, and food safety system governance. Ensures effective integration of sanitation, environmental monitoring, allergen management, hygienic design, zoning, and other preventive controls into the Food Safety Management System while driving compliance, continuous improvement, and food safety culture across the factory.

REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL:

• Bachelors in Microbiology, Food Science /Technology, Food Sanitation or related field required

• Minimum 3-5 plus years’ food manufacturing experience, in quality and/or food safety related positions

• Ownership of hygiene systems with willingness to adjust schedule to support required activities during off shifts and weekends

CRITICAL EXPERIENCE:

• HACCP Program Owner and Food Safety Team Leader experience preferred, with demonstrated success leading cross-functional food safety programs and risk assessments.

• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive accountability across multiple functions and levels of the organization.

• Strong capability to develop, facilitate, and deliver technical and non-technical training programs for employees, contractors, and leadership teams.

• Effective coaching, mentoring, and problem-solving skills with the ability to drive sustainable behavioral and process improvements.

• Strong analytical and root cause investigation skills, including the ability to leverage data, trend analysis, and risk assessments to support decision-making.

• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.

• Ability to lead change, manage competing priorities, and build strong working relationships across Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Quality functions.

SKILLS:

• Effective communication skills and ability to train and facilitate; strong leadership skills.

• Courage to escalate; Strategic thinker; Self-motivation

• Ability to interpret data and make decisions on that basis

• Ability to set priorities and delegate activities

• Ability to dialogue with all levels in the factory

• Computer skills to include proficiency with the Microsoft Office Software.

Salary: $76,986 to $108,268 per year

Bonus Eligibility: 7%

The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.

Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at https://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Review our applicant privacy notice before applying at https://www.nestlejobs.com/privacy.

Job Requisition: 421056