Sanitation Manager

Michigan Milk Producers Assoc • Canton, OH

3h

About The Position

The Sanitation Manager leads and oversees sanitation programs in a dairy manufacturing and packaging facility. The role ensures compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements by developing, implementing, and continuously improving sanitation programs, procedures, and training initiatives. Working closely with plant and quality leadership, the manager drives sanitation performance, supports audit readiness, leads root cause investigations, and promotes food safety and operational excellence. This position provides leadership to a team of sanitation supervisors.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive sanitation experience within a food manufacturing or food processing environment, including supervisory responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of food sanitation principles and best practices.
• Experience with Clean-In-Place (CIP), Clean-Out-of-Place (COP), and SSOP programs.
• Knowledge of food safety and regulatory requirements, including FSMA, GMPs, sanitation controls, OSHA requirements, and SSOP compliance.
• Experience leading sanitation teams and training employees.
• Strong communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze sanitation trends, conduct root cause investigations, and implement corrective actions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and engage employees in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Must be able to perform the responsibilities satisfactorily, with reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.
• Must undergo a drug screening and background check as part of the hiring process.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, a scientific discipline, or a related field.
• Dairy manufacturing experience.
• Experience supporting regulatory, customer, or third-party food safety audits.
• Experience managing sanitation programs in a high-volume food processing environment.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage plant sanitation activities to ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and company standards.
• Develop, implement, and maintain the facility's Master Sanitation Schedule and related documentation.
• Ensure sanitation activities are completed according to established frequencies and standards.
• Train sanitation and plant personnel on sanitation procedures, chemical handling, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs).
• Partner with plant leadership and quality assurance and leadership teams to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve sanitation-related issues.
• Monitor, track, and trend sanitation performance data; lead root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Support internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits and inspections.
• Manage sanitation chemical inventories and maintain relationships with sanitation chemical suppliers.
• Collaborate with contracted sanitation and chemical providers to implement best practices and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support preventive maintenance programs for critical dairy processing equipment, including pasteurizers, separators, pumps, and valves.
• Enforce GMP, food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety policies throughout the facility.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on sanitation effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance.
• Travel occasionally to other MMPA facilities for training or operational support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Health and wellness benefits with medical coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including mental health benefits
• Disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Employer-matched 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Personal and professional growth opportunities
• Employee appreciation events and recognition awards
• Employee wellness initiatives
• Employee feedback and suggestion forums

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed