Sanitation Manager

Talent Wave Associates; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Wave Associates is seeking a seasoned Sanitation Manager to lead and optimize sanitation programs across manufacturing facilities in Lexington, KY. You will oversee the sanitation team, ensure regulatory compliance, and partner with Operations and QA to support capacity expansion and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in sanitation leadership within food manufacturing, a strong grasp of USDA/FSIS and HACCP requirements, and proven project coordination skills to drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 5 years progressive sanitation leadership experience in food manufacturing, preferably USDA-regulated.
• Proven ability to develop and execute sanitation programs and lead teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Master Sanitation Schedule and SSOPs for all facility areas.
• Lead sanitation team including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Ensure compliance with USDA/FSIS, GMPs, HACCP, FSMA, OSHA, and customer requirements; support audits.
• Oversee pre-operational inspections, verification activities, and release of equipment to production; drive CAPAs.
• Manage sanitation chemicals, equipment, supplies, and vendor relationships; ensure chemical safety and inventory control.
• Collaborate with Operations, QA, Maintenance, and Engineering on hygienic design and environmental monitoring.
• Monitor sanitation KPIs, analyze data, and implement continuous improvement to cleanliness and plant performance.
• Maintain documentation, training records, and sanitation logs; support food safety culture and readiness for scale-up.

Skills

Sanitation leadership

Regulatory compliance

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Team management

Education

BS in Food Science or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Quality Management System (QMS)

Job description

Are you passionate about ensuring food safety and operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment?

About the Role

This role involves leading and executing comprehensive sanitation programs across manufacturing facilities to uphold food safety standards and support operational efficiency. The position is critical for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and ensuring readiness during capacity expansions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the Master Sanitation Schedule, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, and related programs for all facility areas.
• Lead and manage the sanitation team, including hiring, training, and performance management, to ensure high-quality execution.
• Ensure compliance with USDA/FSIS regulations, GMPs, HACCP/Food Safety Plans, FSMA, OSHA, and GFSI or customer requirements; support audits and inspections.
• Oversee pre-operational inspections, verification activities, and release of equipment/lines to production; implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Manage sanitation chemicals, equipment, supplies, and vendor relationships; ensure proper chemical safety and inventory control.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, and Engineering on hygienic design, allergen/pathogen control, and Environmental Monitoring Programs.
• Monitor sanitation KPIs, analyze data, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cleaning effectiveness and plant performance.
• Maintain accurate documentation, training records, and sanitation logs; support food safety culture and readiness for production scale-up.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or related field; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• 5 years of progressive experience in sanitation management or leadership within food manufacturing, preferably in USDA/FSIS-regulated environments.
• Proven track record in developing and executing sanitation programs and leading sanitation teams.
• Deep knowledge of food safety regulations and standards, including USDA/FSIS, GMPs, HACCP, SSOPs, and hygienic design principles.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and change-management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional partners.
• Experience with new equipment commissioning, capacity expansion, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills; proficiency with Microsoft Office and sanitation/quality management systems.