Director - Sanitation Programs and Standards (Food Safety and Quality Assurance)

Freshpet Talent Acquisition•Ennis, TX

About The Position

The Sanitation Director is responsible for developing and overseeing sanitation policies and programs to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and compliance across the Freshpet network. This role will provide leadership in exploring innovation, assuring technology transfer related to sanitation tools, developing and deploying training initiatives, and collaborating on sanitary design while challenging the organization to achieve best in class standards, and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.

Requirements

10+ years progressive responsibility managing Sanitation and Pest Control programs.
Food and beverage facility required; RTE and multi-plant experience preferred.
Comprehensive knowledge and experience with MSS, HACCP, Preventive Controls, GMP, SSOP, SQF (or equivalent GFSI scheme) and customer-driven quality and food safety requirements and programs.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, able to influence and guide cross-functional teams.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
Proficiency in budgeting, cost management, and vendor negotiations.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with sanitation management software.
Proficiency in Microbiology and microbial risks in food processing environments.
Able to present recommendations and solutions to leadership team or supplier partners and provide leadership to ensure timely execution and sustainability.
Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs with high capacity to lead others through change.
Able to work varied days/shifts to support business needs with up to 40% travel expected.
BS/BA in Food Science or related field required (Chemistry, Microbiology, Engineering, etc.)

Responsibilities

Sanitation Strategy and Program Deployment: Develop and execute the overall sanitation strategy for Freshpet, based on risk assessments and performance metrics. Develop and oversee the sanitation policies and programs that align with organizational goals and regulatory standards. Address special situations and additional program needs, including microbiological safety, foreign material control, regulatory compliance, environmental monitoring validations, allergen validations, periodic equipment cleaning (PEC) assessments and periodic infrastructure cleaning, and other critical areas.
Cross Functional Leadership: Lead cross campus collaboration to drive standardization and routine best practice sharing. Assist in troubleshooting issues related to quality, sanitation, and food safety. Lead sanitation response in food safety crisis situations.
Innovation and Technology Transfer: Procure new equipment and manage relationships with external vendors for services such as chemical supplies and pest control. Explore, trial, and implement innovative cleaning technologies to enhance sanitation processes across the Freshpet network. Oversee and coordinate internal training initiatives for all relevant cross-functional teams at both the plant and corporate levels.
Food Safety Auditing: Active participant in internal auditing team. Oversee routine inspections and audits of sanitation systems, procedures, and facilities to ensure Freshpet standards are met. Ensure full compliance with sanitation regulations set by agencies such as the FDA, USDA, OSHA, and local health authorities.
Sanitary Design Leadership: Establish sanitary design standards and define clear management expectations regarding design practices. Collaborate closely with Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA), Engineering and Manufacturing teams to approve designs for new projects, equipment installations, and infrastructure modifications.
Cross Functional Support: Provide support for special projects, such as extended production runs, condensed operations, and any work related to FPE. Collaborate with other department heads (e.g., Engineering, Quality Assurance, Production, Maintenance) to integrate sanitation efforts and minimize operational disruptions.
Functional Leadership: Mentor and develop a team of sanitation professionals across all levels. Promote a culture of safety and hygiene within the department and across the entire organization. Set corporate KPIs and establish programs for continuous improvement in sanitation operations. Represent the organization in meetings with regulatory agencies, community and civic organizations, and other stakeholders.