Sanitation Manager

Location: Confidential

Industry: Food Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full-Time

Schedule: Flexible schedule supporting a 24-hour manufacturing operation, including weekends as needed

About the Opportunity

A growing food manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Sanitation Manager to lead sanitation operations within a high-volume production facility. This individual will be responsible for supervising the sanitation team, ensuring equipment and facility areas are cleaned and sanitized to established standards, and maintaining compliance with GMP, food safety, quality, safety, and environmental requirements.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who can build accountability within a team, work closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, and HR, and ensure sanitation activities are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, train, and develop sanitation employees while maintaining a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and teamwork.
• Plan, organize, prioritize, and assign daily sanitation activities based on production and departmental needs.
• Ensure facility equipment, production areas, and building structures are cleaned and sanitized in accordance with established procedures and GMP standards.
• Safely operate, disassemble, clean, sanitize, and reassemble production equipment.
• Ensure sanitation employees follow all applicable safety regulations, company policies, procedures, and standards.
• Manage sanitation schedules and make adjustments as needed to ensure required cleaning activities are completed.
• Communicate daily schedules, goals, quality concerns, and operational issues effectively across shifts.
• Partner closely with Production and Maintenance to coordinate sanitation activities and minimize operational disruptions.
• Monitor sanitation performance, department metrics, labor, supplies, and departmental budget.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities related to sanitation, safety, quality, efficiency, and cost.
• Ensure employees are properly trained and compliant with applicable food safety, quality, operational, and regulatory requirements.
• Address employee performance and personnel issues in a fair, consistent, and professional manner.
• Ensure proper handling and disposal of waste in accordance with company and environmental requirements.
• Maintain accurate food safety and quality records and immediately communicate any known or suspected issues to Quality and Operations leadership.
• Safeguard company equipment, property, and PPE.
• Lead by example in attendance, safety, GMP compliance, quality of work, organization, and follow-through.
• Participate in required company, food safety, and quality training.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• 6–10+ years of experience supervising or managing employees in a manufacturing, food production, or similar industrial environment.
• Previous experience leading sanitation teams in a food manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety, sanitation practices, and quality requirements.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, train, and hold employees accountable.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize competing operational needs.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively with Production, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Warehouse, Human Resources, and other departments.
• Bilingual Spanish/English is a plus.
• High school diploma/GED or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is a hands-on leadership position in a manufacturing and warehouse environment. The role requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Frequently lift materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Bend, twist, turn, reach, push, and pull.
• Climb stairs and work around production equipment.
• Frequently stoop, kneel, crouch, and balance.
• Work in cold production environments, potentially reaching temperatures around -20°F.
• Work a flexible schedule supporting a 24-hour manufacturing operation, including weekends as needed.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a critical sanitation function within a food manufacturing operation, lead and develop a team, and directly influence food safety, production performance, employee safety, and overall plant standards.

If you are an experienced sanitation or production leader who thrives in a hands-on manufacturing environment, we would like to hear from you.