Sanitation Supervisor

The Sanitation Supervisor is responsible for leading and overseeing all sanitation activities within a food ingredients manufacturing facility. This role ensures that equipment, production areas, and facility infrastructure are cleaned and maintained in compliance with food safety, regulatory, and company standards. The Sanitation Supervisor directs sanitation personnel, coordinates cleaning schedules, and partners with Quality, Operations, and Maintenance to maintain a hygienic, audit-ready environment.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise, train, and develop sanitation team members to ensure effective performance and adherence to procedures.
• Enforce company policies, GMPs, and safety protocols consistently.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide coaching, and address performance issues as needed.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Sanitation Program Management

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee daily, weekly, and periodic cleaning and sanitation activities.
• Ensure all equipment, production areas, and facilities are cleaned and sanitized according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs).
• Verify proper disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of equipment.
• Maintain sanitation schedules, checklists, and documentation.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, including GMP, HACCP, FDA, and internal quality systems.
• Support internal and external audits, inspections, and certifications (e.g., SQF).
• Conduct pre-operational inspections to verify readiness for production.
• Address and resolve sanitation-related non-conformances or audit findings promptly.
• Ensure proper chemical handling, labeling, and storage in compliance with regulatory standards.

Safety & Environmental Management

• Enforce use of proper PPE and safe work practices.
• Train employees on chemical safety, equipment operation, and hazard recognition.
• Conduct safety observations and participate in incident investigations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations, including wastewater and chemical disposal procedures.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Production, Maintenance, and Quality teams to coordinate cleaning schedules and minimize downtime.
• Support equipment changeovers, maintenance activities, and plant shutdowns.
• Communicate sanitation issues, risks, and performance metrics to plant leadership.

Continuous Improvement & Efficiency

• Identify opportunities to improve sanitation effectiveness, efficiency, and cost control.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives within sanitation processes.
• Evaluate and introduce new chemicals, tools, or technologies to enhance cleaning performance.
• Track and report sanitation KPIs and drive improvements.

Other

• Adhere to all government and company safety, sanitation and GMP policies and regulations. Adhere to Food Safety, Quality and SQF Codes.
• Responsible for incorporating Food Safety programs and certifications, local and Federal regulations and any other required Food Safety elements of the site into their area of operations.
• Responsible for ensuring area personnel are trained and follow Food Safety requirements.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED required; associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
• 3–5+ years of sanitation, manufacturing, or food production experience.
• 1–3+ years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Experience in food, beverage, or other GMP-regulated environments strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of sanitation methods, chemicals, and cleaning equipment (e.g., CIP systems, foamers, pressure washers).
• Knowledge of food safety standards (GMP, HACCP, regulatory requirements).
• Familiarity with sanitation documentation, audit processes, and compliance systems.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to food safety and quality.
• Effective communication and problem-solving skills.