Sanitation Manager

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.

We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

We’re partnering with a food processing operation where cleanliness, consistency, and discipline directly protect product quality and customer trust. This environment is hands‑on and fast‑moving—machines run hard, people move quickly, and sanitation is treated as a critical operational function, not an afterthought.

This Sanitation Manager role exists to strengthen and lead plant‑wide sanitation programs while supporting a culture of food safety and accountability. You’ll bring structure to daily execution, ensure teams are trained and prepared, and help the facility stay aligned with regulatory and internal standards.

The right person for this role is a steady leader who can manage people, priorities, and pressure at the same time. You’re comfortable being visible on the floor, you communicate clearly, and you can hold the line on standards while still building trust with the team.

• Lead the sanitation function for the facility—setting expectations, guiding the team, and ensuring work is executed safely and thoroughly.
• Develop, implement, and maintain sanitation policies and procedures aligned with USDA, FDA, OSHA, HACCP, GMPs, SOPs, and the plant’s SSOP program.
• Build and manage sanitation schedules so equipment, production areas, and the facility consistently meet cleanliness standards.
• Train, coach, and evaluate sanitation employees—reinforcing proper cleaning methods, chemical handling, and PPE use.
• Conduct inspections, audits, and risk assessments to identify gaps, address issues, and elevate overall sanitation performance.
• Partner with production and quality teams to meet hygiene requirements while keeping operations moving.
• Investigate sanitation concerns and drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) when improvements are needed.
• Maintain accurate records related to sanitation activities and compliance (e.g., sanitation schedules, pre‑op reports, and audit documentation).
• Stay current on sanitation best practices, chemical effectiveness, and emerging tools or technology that can improve processes.

You’re organized, consistent, and comfortable setting a high bar. People know what you expect, and they also know you’ll support them with training and clear direction.

You bring a practical, problem‑solving mindset to the floor—spotting risks early, addressing root causes, and following through until the work is truly complete. You can shift between details and big‑picture priorities without losing control of either.

You’re also the type who runs toward complexity instead of away from it—because you understand that sanitation is one of the strongest levers a plant has to protect food safety and performance.

• 3–5 years of sanitation management experience in a food processing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of USDA, FDA, HACCP, GMP, OSHA, and sanitation best practices.
• Experience leading teams, training employees, and reinforcing safe chemical handling and sanitation procedures.
• Solid organizational skills with the ability to plan, assign, and direct work while managing multiple priorities.
• Clear communicator who can document effectively and collaborate across departments.
• Comfort working flexible hours, including nights and weekends as needed.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and sanitation management software.
• High school diploma/GED required; additional related education is a plus.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) or multi‑language capability is a plus.

This role protects the integrity of the operation. When sanitation is done right, everything downstream runs better—food safety is stronger, quality is more consistent, and teams operate with confidence.

You’ll work closely with plant leadership and partner daily with production and quality teams, creating standards that hold up under real conditions. This is a visible role with real influence—one that shapes how the plant performs, how it stays compliant, and how it builds long‑term trust in what it produces.

• Reports to:
  
  Plant Manager.
• Leads: sanitation team members responsible for cleaning, chemical handling, and sanitation execution across equipment and facility areas.
• Interfaces frequently with: production leadership, quality assurance, plant management, and regulatory expectations tied to USDA/FDA/OSHA‑aligned programs.