Senior Sanitation Manager

Position Summary

The Senior Sanitation Manager is responsible for leading, developing, and overseeing the sanitation program for a high-volume poultry processing facility. This role ensures compliance with USDA, FDA, OSHA, and company food safety and sanitation standards. The individual will manage sanitation operations, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and partner with cross-functional teams to ensure a safe, compliant, and efficient production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management

  • Direct and supervise the sanitation team, including supervisors, leads, and frontline staff.

  • Provide training, coaching, and performance management to build a strong sanitation culture.

  • Develop staffing schedules and labor allocation plans to meet operational needs.

• Sanitation Operations

  • Oversee all daily and nightly cleaning and sanitizing activities across production, packaging, and support areas.

  • Ensure proper use and handling of chemicals and sanitation equipment.

  • Verify cleaning and sanitation effectiveness through visual inspections, ATP testing, and microbial swabbing.

• Compliance & Food Safety

  • Maintain compliance with USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulations, HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and company policies.

  • Lead pre-operational inspections and partner with QA and USDA inspectors to resolve issues.

  • Maintain accurate sanitation documentation, records, and reports.

• Continuous Improvement

  • Implement and monitor sanitation KPIs, driving improvements in efficiency, cost control, and food safety.

  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes for sanitation-related deviations.

  • Partner with maintenance and operations to optimize sanitation-friendly equipment and facility design.

• Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

  • Promote a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety policies.

  • Ensure safe chemical handling, storage, and PPE use.

  • Investigate sanitation-related accidents and implement corrective actions.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Animal Science, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

  • Minimum 7-10 years sanitation management experience in poultry, meat, or food manufacturing (USDA-regulated environment required).

  • Proven experience managing large teams in a high-volume, 24/7 manufacturing environment.

• Knowledge & Skills

  • Deep knowledge of USDA FSIS regulations, HACCP, GMPs, SSOPs, and sanitation best practices.

  • Strong understanding of microbiology, chemical safety, and food safety risk management.

  • Excellent leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

  • Proficiency with sanitation equipment, chemical usage, and sanitation verification methods.

  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Other Requirements

  • Willingness to work flexible shifts (nights, weekends, holidays as needed).

  • Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

  • Ability to work in a cold, wet, and fast-paced processing environment.