Sanitation Team Leader

At Firebrand Artisan Breads, we’re united by purpose, driven by service, and dedicated to craft. From our fast-growing wholesale bakery to our vibrant café, we create world‑class breads and pastries while building real opportunities for people from all walks of life. Join a team where your work matters — in the kitchen, in the community, and beyond.

The Sanitation Team Leader plays a critical role in maintaining the highest standards of food safety, cleanliness, and regulatory compliance across our production facility. This is a working leadership position responsible for leading daily sanitation operations, coaching team members, and upholding our commitment to SQF‑certified food safety practices. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of food safety protocols, GMP standards, and the discipline to drive accountability across a team in a fast‑paced production environment.

• Demonstrate working knowledge of SQF (Safe Quality Food) standards and support ongoing SQF compliance and certification efforts.
• Ensure all sanitation activities align with SSOP (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures), GMP guidelines, and FDA/CDFA regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate and complete daily cleaning logs, deep cleaning records, and audit‑ready documentation — non‑negotiable.
• Oversee proper use, dilution, and handling of cleaning chemicals per SDS and Cal/OSHA requirements.
• Lead pre‑operational sanitation checks to ensure equipment and surfaces meet food safety standards prior to production.
• Identify and elevate any food safety risks, contamination concerns, or equipment issues immediately.
• Support internal and third‑party food safety audits by maintaining inspection‑ready standards at all times.
• Participate in and facilitate ongoing SQF education and team training as our food safety program evolves.

• Supervise day‑to‑day performance and quality of work completed by sanitation team members.
• Train new team members using Firebrand’s standardized training procedures and checklists.
• Lead daily pre‑shift meetings to assign responsibilities, communicate expectations, and review priorities.
• Serve as the on‑shift point of contact for the sanitation crew.
• Distribute workload, assign tasks, and ensure even coverage across shifts and zones.
• Conduct weekly check‑ins with the Manager to provide updates, feedback, and address challenges.
• Collect and maintain completed daily cleaning checklists for record‑keeping and audit readiness.
• Communicate with management regarding supply needs, broken equipment, or safety concerns.
• Use Slack for day‑to‑day updates, scheduling, and issue reporting.
• Challenge and improve existing cleaning methods and protocols to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Support a respectful, accountable, team‑oriented culture aligned with Firebrand’s mission.
• Participate in ongoing safety, DEI, and harassment prevention training as required.

Required:

• Bilingual English/Spanish — required. Must communicate fluently in both languages with team members and management.
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in sanitation, food production, or janitorial operations, preferably in a food manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of SQF standards, GMPs, and food safety regulations — SQF Practitioner certification or equivalent a strong plus.
• Prior team lead or supervisory experience required.
• Strong understanding of cleaning chemical safety, SDS protocols, and PPE requirements.
• Ability to train and coach team members with patience, clarity, and accountability.
• Strong attention to detail, time management, and task delegation skills.
• Ability to perform basic math and use digital tools (Slack) for workplace communication.
• Valid California Food Handler’s Card (or ability to obtain upon hire).

• Must be available to work weekends and holidays — this is a firm requirement of the role.
• Full‑time position with a variable schedule based on production needs.
• Must be available for early morning, evening, weekend, or holiday shifts as required.
• Overtime paid in accordance with California law (8+ hours/day or 40+ hours/week).

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift for extended periods.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. consistently.
• Comfortable working with cleaning agents, hot water, and in varied temperature environments including coolers and production areas.
• Employer‑sponsored healthcare through Kaiser Permanente.
• Accrual of up to 120 hours of PTO per year.
• Paid 10‑minute rest breaks and uninterrupted 30‑minute meal periods per California Labor Code.