Sanitation Manager

Ajinomoto Foods North America•Oakland, MS

About The Position

The Sanitation Team Manager II is responsible for delivering performance targets in sanitation to reduce food safety risk and eliminate waste. The role will lead and develop the sanitation team to achieve optimal sanitation results through effective coaching, continuous improvement initiatives, and adherence to company and regulatory standards. The incumbent will build organizational capability to drive and maintain improvements in food safety, and efficiency.

Requirements

Associate of Science degree in a STEM field (Engineering, Food Science, Technology, Math, etc.) required.
Experience in lieu of degree will be considered.
Minimum 4 years of manufacturing experience in a leadership role, preferably in the food industry.
Multiple examples of building organizational capabilities (team skill proficiency improvements, team promotions).
Multiple examples of solving issues to root cause and eliminating recurrence.
Multiple examples of delivering performance improvement in food safety and sanitation.
Communication Skills – excellent verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing and presentation skills.
Interpersonal Skills - must have strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage cross functional support through influence.
Organizational Skills – must have excellent organizational skills to prioritize multiple projects with competing priorities. Results must be detailed and accurate.
Judgment/Decision Making – ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make appropriate business judgment and recommendations.
Computer Skills – working knowledge of Microsoft based software, including Excel, Word, and Outlook

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM field
Developing, deploying and maintaining GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations.

Responsibilities

Lead and motivate the sanitation team to meet and exceed performance standards and achieve optimal sanitation effectiveness.
Provides direct supervision, coaching and performance management to salaried team members.
Assess and evaluate all sanitation functions. Report back opportunities and solutions to facility leadership stressing areas for immediate improvement.
Communicate clear expectations regarding sanitation and food safety standards, ensuring alignment with company policies and goals.
Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly sanitation and MSS plan, ensuring alignment with broader site and corporate goals.
Conduct regular team meetings to align priorities, address challenges, and recognize achievements.
Mentor and provide feedback to salaried direct report(s) to build capability, foster engagement and prepare them for future leadership opportunities.
Escalate, resolve, and find immediate solutions to sanitation deviations that can compromise safety of our production.
Ensure the 7 steps of sanitation are trained, always understood, and followed by all sanitation team members.
Thorough understanding of the chemicals used for effective cleaning of each surface type, application process, titration, dwell time and the safety measures required to prevent injury to the team.
Understanding how a CIP system operates, be able to trouble shoot breakdowns and monitor chemical usage.
In depth knowledge of pre-operational inspection procedures specific to cleaning concerns of each piece of equipment.
Knowledge of microorganisms that can contribute to food safety risk in the facility, biofilms and how to eliminate them.
Oversee daily sanitation activities, ensuring thorough execution of the sanitation program and quick resolution of any food safety issues through thorough STPD activities that identify root cause, create corrective actions and monitor sustainment of those actions.
Identify opportunities for sanitation improvement and lead initiatives to improve sanitation effectiveness.
Ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and company safety policies.
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to Food Safety, Sanitation, Cost and Efficiency and implement corrective actions where necessary.
Drive adherence to SSOPs and continuous improvement frameworks.
Ensure all documentation is accurately completed, available for review and audit ready.
Develop and manage the budget for sanitation activities, labor and chemical usage ensuring cost control and optimal resource utilization.
Track chemicals spend weekly and monthly; analyze variances and adjust plans as needed to meet targets.
Identify cost reduction opportunities through improved sanitation and chemical use efficiency and waste reduction.
Fully understand and be able to teach all sanitation techniques.
Build a high-performing team by recruiting, training, and developing direct report(s) and line team members.
Foster a culture of leading with Company Purpose and Values, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Provide coaching and development opportunities to team members to enhance skills and promote career growth.
Lead cross-functional training to ensure team versatility and flexibility in managing sanitation demands.
Ensure Team Manager I and hourly team proficiency in key tools and systems, including:
STPD (Standardized Problem Solving) tool.
Titration procedures
Safety Chain
Collaborate with site leadership, maintenance, engineering, food safety and quality teams to identify and resolve food safety and sanitation challenges.
Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure sanitation effectiveness when implementing new processes and selecting and installing new equipment.
Function as the primary point of contact who is responsible for sanitation related issues, ensuring alignment with broader plant objectives.
Engage in strategic planning with site leaders to ensure long-term success.