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.
