Corporate Director of Sanitation

Schwan's Company•Hopkins, MN

9d•$120,000 - $200,000

About The Position

The Corporate Director of Sanitation provides strategic leadership for sanitation programs across our manufacturing and distribution network, ensuring excellence in food safety, regulatory compliance, hygienic design, and operational performance. This enterprise leader partners across Operations, Food Safety & Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to drive continuous improvement, strengthen sanitation capability, and build a culture where sanitation is the foundation of every successful production cycle.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
10+ years of progressive sanitation, food safety, or quality leadership experience within food manufacturing, including responsibility for multi-site or enterprise-wide programs.
Deep expertise in sanitation systems, environmental monitoring, pathogen control, hygienic design, sanitation validation and verification, allergen management, and microbiology.
Strong knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMPs, and food manufacturing sanitation regulations and standards.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, influence senior leaders, manage regulatory interactions, and deliver measurable food safety and operational improvements.
Demonstrated success building high-performing teams, developing organizational capability, and leading change in a complex manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

HACCP, PCQI, SQF Practitioner/Internal Auditor, and hygienic design certifications (3-A, EHEDG, or equivalent) preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the enterprise sanitation strategy to strengthen food safety, regulatory compliance, operational performance, and continuous improvement.
Serve as the enterprise sanitation subject matter expert, advising senior leadership on sanitation risk, regulatory matters, environmental monitoring, hygienic design, and post-construction restoration activities.
Establish and govern enterprise sanitation programs, standards, and procedures, including sanitation validation and verification, environmental monitoring, pathogen control, Master Sanitation Schedules, and sanitation performance metrics.
Lead hygienic design standards and capital project requirements, partnering with Engineering on equipment selection, installations, facility modifications, zoning, traffic flow, water management, and sanitation technology advancements.
Develop organizational capability through leadership development, succession planning, sanitation training, coaching, and certification programs for sanitation leaders and teams.
Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Food Safety & Quality, Engineering, Procurement, and Supply Chain leaders to optimize sanitation performance and drive enterprise-wide improvement initiatives.
Oversee sanitation chemical programs and manage strategic relationships with sanitation, chemical, and third-party service providers to maximize effectiveness, compliance, and cost efficiency.
Monitor emerging regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and food safety trends to ensure ongoing compliance and continuous advancement of sanitation programs.