Sanitation Manager

Are you passionate about ensuring food safety and operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment?

About the Role

This role involves leading and executing comprehensive sanitation programs across manufacturing facilities to uphold food safety standards and support operational efficiency. The position is critical for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and ensuring readiness during capacity expansions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Master Sanitation Schedule, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, and related programs for all facility areas.
• Lead and manage the sanitation team, including hiring, training, and performance management, to ensure high-quality execution.
• Ensure compliance with USDA/FSIS regulations, GMPs, HACCP/Food Safety Plans, FSMA, OSHA, and GFSI or customer requirements; support audits and inspections.
• Oversee pre-operational inspections, verification activities, and release of equipment/lines to production; implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage sanitation chemicals, equipment, supplies, and vendor relationships; ensure proper chemical safety and inventory control.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and Engineering on hygienic design, allergen/pathogen control, and Environmental Monitoring Programs.
• Monitor sanitation KPIs, analyze data, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cleaning effectiveness and plant performance.
• Maintain accurate documentation, training records, and sanitation logs; support food safety culture and readiness for production scale-up.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• 5 years of progressive experience in sanitation management or leadership within food manufacturing, preferably in USDA/FSIS-regulated environments.
• Proven track record in developing and executing sanitation programs and leading sanitation teams.
• Deep knowledge of food safety regulations and standards, including USDA/FSIS, GMPs, HACCP, SSOPs, and hygienic design principles.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and change-management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional partners.
• Experience with new equipment commissioning, capacity expansion, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills; proficiency with Microsoft Office and sanitation/quality management systems.

At Talent Wave Associates, we connect outstanding talent with exceptional opportunities. We're proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to fostering an inclusive, people-first recruiting experience. Ready to ride the wave of opportunity? Apply today!

As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our applicant tracking system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.

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