Sanitation Supervisor

Riverside Natural Foods Ltd. • Toronto, ON

8d • CA$85,000 - CA$95,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Plant/Production Manager, the Sanitation Supervisor is responsible for leading all sanitation operations during the night shift to ensure the facility, equipment, and production environment meet the highest standards of cleanliness, food safety, and regulatory compliance. This role provides leadership to the sanitation team while ensuring all cleaning and sanitation activities are completed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
The Sanitation Supervisor is accountable for executing the Master Sanitation Schedule, maintaining sanitation records, driving continuous improvement initiatives, supporting audit readiness, and partnering with cross-functional teams to protect product quality and food safety. This position requires a hands-on leader who promotes accountability, develops employees, and fosters a culture of safety, teamwork, respect, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, Environmental Health, or a related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 3–5 years of sanitation leadership experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, BRCGS, CFIA regulations, allergen control, sanitation validation, and food safety principles.
• Working knowledge of Occupational Health & Safety legislation, WHMIS, and Lockout/Tagout requirements.
• Experience leading teams in a unionized environment is considered an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and computerized maintenance or production systems is an asset.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and planning abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and adapt to changing production requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Ability to work independently while building strong cross-functional relationships.
• Demonstrated commitment to food safety, employee safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to lead by example and inspire accountability and teamwork.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading teams in a unionized environment is considered an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and computerized maintenance or production systems is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the sanitation team to achieve high standards of performance, accountability, and engagement.
• Recruit, onboard, train, schedule, and evaluate sanitation employees.
• Conduct regular performance discussions, coaching sessions, and performance evaluations.
• Promote a positive, respectful, and inclusive work environment that supports employee engagement and continuous learning.
• Ensure employees are properly trained and competent in sanitation procedures, chemical handling, equipment operation, PPE requirements, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and safe work practices.
• Foster a culture where safety, food safety, quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement are everyday expectations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety and regulatory requirements, including: HACCP, GMP, BRCGS, CFIA requirements, Occupational Health & Safety legislation, Company Food Safety and Sanitation Programs.
• Execute and monitor the Master Sanitation Schedule to ensure all sanitation activities are completed on time and to standard.
• Ensure all Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) remain current, effective, and compliant.
• Maintain complete and accurate sanitation documentation, including cleaning records, verification records, inspections, corrective actions, and chemical usage logs.
• Support internal, customer, and third-party audits and participate in regulatory inspections.
• Ensure allergen cleaning validations and verification activities are completed according to company procedures.
• Supervise and coordinate all nightly sanitation activities across production areas, warehouses, employee welfare areas, exterior grounds, and processing equipment.
• Perform routine inspections to verify sanitation effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate sanitation deficiencies, identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and verify effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Production, Warehouse, and Engineering to resolve sanitation and food safety concerns.
• Ensure production equipment is properly cleaned, sanitized, assembled, and ready for scheduled production startup.
• Support equipment commissioning, preventive maintenance activities, and sanitation validations as required.
• Monitor sanitation KPIs and develop action plans to improve sanitation effectiveness, efficiency, and labour utilization.
• Identify opportunities to improve sanitation processes through Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all sanitation work is performed safely and in compliance with Occupational Health & Safety requirements.
• Enforce safe chemical handling, confined space procedures (where applicable), PPE usage, Lockout/Tagout, working at heights, and other applicable safety procedures.
• Conduct regular safety observations, toolbox talks, and incident investigations.
• Report hazards promptly and implement corrective actions to eliminate workplace risks.
• Promote a proactive safety culture where employees actively participate in hazard identification and prevention.
• Monitor inventory levels of sanitation chemicals, cleaning tools, PPE, and sanitation equipment.
• Coordinate purchasing requirements to maintain adequate inventory while minimizing waste and controlling costs.
• Ensure chemicals are stored, labelled, and used according to WHMIS requirements and manufacturer specifications.
• Monitor sanitation labour, supplies, and operating costs while identifying opportunities for improved efficiency.
• Evaluate existing sanitation processes and implement improvements that enhance food safety, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
• Stay informed of industry best practices, new sanitation technologies, and regulatory changes.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement projects focused on sanitation performance, food safety, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
• Support cross-functional initiatives that improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), downtime reduction, and plant performance.
• Demonstrate integrity, accountability, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Lead with respect while fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusion.
• Take ownership of sanitation performance and drive operational excellence.
• Encourage teamwork across departments to achieve common goals.
• Promote continuous improvement by challenging the status quo and implementing innovative solutions.
• Create an environment where employees feel valued, engaged, and empowered to contribute while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and performance.

Benefits

• RRSP matching or 401k matching for an empowered financial journey
• Eligibility to participate in Riverside's Profit Sharing Plan
• Join Employee-Led Resource Groups (ERGs) championing mental health, sustainability, diversity, women, and LGBTQ+ rights
• Develop your career further through our Riverside University program and with our Tuition Reimbursement Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree