Sanitation Manager

Sanitation Manager
Temp-to-Hire | Full-Time

Position Summary

The Sanitation Manager – Operations Support plays a critical role in maintaining and advancing sanitation excellence within a food manufacturing environment. This position is responsible for ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance, and operational readiness through the effective execution of sanitation programs and procedures. The role provides hands-on leadership, operational support, and stability during periods of growth, transition, increased production demands, or organizational change while partnering closely with site leadership and cross-functional teams.

Key Responsibilities & Areas of Focus

Operational Excellence & Stability

• Provide proactive leadership and oversight to ensure sanitation programs are executed consistently and effectively.
• Support plant operations by maintaining production readiness and sanitation compliance during operational changes, staffing challenges, or process transitions.
• Drive accountability for sanitation performance across all shifts and functional areas.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop sanitation personnel through coaching, performance management, and ongoing training initiatives.
• Foster a culture centered on food safety, teamwork, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure team members understand and follow established sanitation, safety, and quality standards.

Regulatory Compliance & Program Management

• Maintain compliance with all applicable food safety regulations and company policies, including FDA, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, GMP, and SSOP requirements.
• Oversee sanitation documentation, recordkeeping, and verification activities to ensure accuracy and audit readiness.
• Promote strong compliance practices through routine monitoring and corrective action follow-up.

Audit Readiness & Inspection Support

• Coordinate and lead sanitation-related audits, inspections, and assessments conducted by regulatory agencies, customers, and third-party organizations.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to address audit findings and continuously strengthen sanitation programs.
• Support site-wide readiness efforts to maintain compliance and operational confidence.

Sanitation Program Oversight

• Manage sanitation schedules, chemical management programs, allergen control processes, and facility cleaning activities.
• Ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment, production areas, and supporting infrastructure.
• Support environmental monitoring programs and investigate sanitation-related concerns as needed.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance, Operations, Maintenance, and Plant Leadership teams to address sanitation challenges and improve overall plant performance.
• Participate in root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance food safety and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a key resource for sanitation-related guidance and best practices.

Performance Improvement & Cost Management

• Monitor sanitation performance indicators, cleaning effectiveness, labor utilization, and chemical consumption.
• Analyze trends and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize sanitation processes.
• Implement practical, cost-effective solutions that support both compliance and operational goals.

Safety & Chemical Management

• Champion a strong workplace safety culture by ensuring proper chemical handling, PPE usage, and hazard communication practices.
• Maintain compliance with all safety regulations and company environmental, health, and safety standards.
• Promote safe work practices through training, coaching, and regular observations.

Vendor & External Partner Coordination

• Partner with third-party sanitation providers, chemical suppliers, and service vendors to ensure effective program execution.
• Support regulatory visits, customer audits, and third-party assessments as required.
• Maintain positive working relationships with external partners while ensuring performance expectations are met.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Safety, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent industry experience will be considered.
• Minimum of five years of progressive sanitation leadership experience within a food manufacturing environment.
• Dairy manufacturing experience is preferred but not required.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, FSMA, GMPs, SSOPs, allergen management programs, environmental monitoring, and food safety systems.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven leadership ability with strong coaching, mentoring, and team development skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and sanitation, compliance, or quality management systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and regulatory compliance.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Regular presence in manufacturing and production environments, including exposure to cold, wet, humid, and industrial conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and remain standing or walking for extended periods.
• Flexibility to work occasional off-shifts, weekends, or non-production hours to support sanitation activities and operational needs.