Sanitation Program Manager

Welch's; North East (Erie County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Volunteer time off (40 hours)

Development & advancement

401K with company match

Health savings accounts

Life and accident insurance

Employee Assistance Programs

Perks at Work

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Welch's is seeking a hands-on Sanitation Program Manager to lead our plant sanitation strategy and execution. You will partner across Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and EHS to strengthen sanitation systems and ensure top food safety standards.

In this visible role, you will build a culture of accountability, lead audits, and drive continuous improvement using Lean methods. You will develop people, optimize CIP, and ensure sanitary design in capital projects while supporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical field.
• 3–5+ years leading sanitation programs in a food/beverage manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, SQF or other GFSI-certified environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve all plant sanitation and pest control programs, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and internal quality standards.
• Serve as the site's sanitation SME, providing technical leadership and troubleshooting support across production, maintenance, engineering, quality, and corporate teams.
• Own the development, validation, and continuous improvement of sanitation procedures, CIP systems, sanitation chemistry, and sanitary equipment design.
• Build a culture of accountability by training, coaching, and developing employees across all shifts on sanitation best practices, chemical safety, GMPs, and food safety expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that eliminate waste, improve cleaning effectiveness, reduce downtime, and enhance operational performance using Lean and problem-solving methodologies.
• Conduct routine sanitation audits, GMP inspections, and housekeeping assessments, ensuring timely corrective actions and sustainable improvements.
• Lead the site's Environmental Monitoring Program, post-CIP microbiological verification, and sanitation validation activities while ensuring robust documentation and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to ensure new equipment, facility modifications, and capital projects incorporate sanitary design principles from the outset.
• Lead sanitation readiness for internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits while supporting rapid and effective corrective action execution.
• Manage the Master Sanitation Schedule and ensure sanitation activities are completed effectively, documented accurately, and continuously optimized.
• Monitor sanitation performance through KPIs and trend analysis, using data to identify opportunities and drive measurable improvements.
• Build strong partnerships with chemical suppliers and external service providers to ensure best-in-class sanitation practices.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis investigations and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Supervise and develop sanitation technicians and janitorial staff, establishing clear expectations, coaching for performance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Promote a proactive food safety culture by actively participating in Food Safety Teams, consumer complaint investigations, internal audits, regulatory inspections, and cross-functional improvement.

Skills

Hands-on leader

Food safety

Lean manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Data driven

Education

Food Science degree

CQE preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We're looking for a hands-on, high-impact Sanitation Program Manager to lead our plant sanitation strategy and execution. This role is responsible for creating a sanitation culture where food safety is non-negotiable, continuous improvement is expected, and operational excellence is achieved every day.

You'll partner across Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Environmental Health & Safety to strengthen sanitation systems, improve equipment design, optimize cleaning processes, and ensure our facility consistently meets the highest food safety standards.

This is a highly visible plant leadership role for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, developing people, and driving measurable improvements across the plant.

What You'll Do

• Lead and continuously improve all plant sanitation and pest control programs, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and internal quality standards.
• Serve as the site's sanitation subject matter expert (SME), providing technical leadership and troubleshooting support across production, maintenance, engineering, quality, and corporate teams.
• Own the development, validation, and continuous improvement of sanitation procedures, CIP systems, sanitation chemistry, and sanitary equipment design.
• Build a culture of accountability by training, coaching, and developing employees across all shifts on sanitation best practices, chemical safety, GMPs, and food safety expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that eliminate waste, improve cleaning effectiveness, reduce downtime, and enhance operational performance using Lean and problem-solving methodologies.
• Conduct routine sanitation audits, GMP inspections, and housekeeping assessments, ensuring timely corrective actions and sustainable improvements.
• Lead the site's Environmental Monitoring Program, post-CIP microbiological verification, and sanitation validation activities while ensuring robust documentation and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to ensure new equipment, facility modifications, and capital projects incorporate sanitary design principles from the outset.
• Lead sanitation readiness for internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits while supporting rapid and effective corrective action execution.
• Manage the Master Sanitation Schedule and ensure sanitation activities are completed effectively, documented accurately, and continuously optimized.
• Monitor sanitation performance through KPIs and trend analysis, using data to identify opportunities and drive measurable improvements.
• Build strong partnerships with chemical suppliers and external service providers to ensure best-in-class sanitation practices.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis investigations and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Supervise and develop sanitation technicians and janitorial staff, establishing clear expectations, coaching for performance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Promote a proactive food safety culture by actively participating in Food Safety Teams, consumer complaint investigations, internal audits, regulatory inspections, and cross-functional improvement.

Who You Are

• A visible, hands-on leader who enjoys being on the production floor and developing people.
• Passionate about food safety and committed to raising operational standards every day.
• Comfortable challenging existing processes and driving meaningful continuous improvement.
• A collaborative partner who builds trust across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Environmental Health and Safety.
• Data-driven, organized, and able to translate technical sanitation concepts into practical execution.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Engineering, or a related technical field strongly preferred.
• 3 to 5 plus years of progressive sanitation program leadership experience within a food or beverage manufacturing environment is required.
• Strong knowledge of sanitation chemistry, CIP systems, sanitary equipment design, environmental monitoring, and hygienic manufacturing practices.
• Experience leading sanitation programs within HACCP, GMP, SQF, or other GFSI-certified environments.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Root Cause Analysis, Continuous Improvement, and Statistical Process Control.
• Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) preferred, or willingness to obtain certification.
• Strong computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office.
• While this is generally categorized as a "day shift" plant leadership position, individuals must remain flexible to support multiple shifts and plant priorities as business needs require.

What You'll Enjoy

• Organization with a bold, clear purpose & vision for the future
• Inclusive Culture: Be a part of an inclusive workplace where you not only belong but also have the opportunity to be the best version of yourself.
• Passionate Community: You are encouraged to have a voice, share your opinions, and have an individual impact on the success of the business.
• Paid Time Off and Holidays: Available immediately for you to enjoy time away from the office to rest and recharge.
• Paid Volunteer Time Off: 40 hours of paid volunteer time for all non-union employees.
• Development & Advancement: Formal and informal opportunities to develop and grow your career.
• Compensation Package Consisting of Competitive Base Salary and Annual Incentive Plan (Bonus)
• 401K plan with Generous Company Match
• Flexible Benefits from your first day: Choose the benefits that meet your needs and preferences.
• Health Savings Accounts
• Life and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Additional benefits available through Perks at Work
• Paid parental (and adoption) leave - Available after 6 months of employment.

Compensation

The anticipated hiring base salary range for this position is $110,000 to $115,000 annually for US-based employees. This range reflects the minimum and maximum for the position across all US locations, is based on a full-time work schedule, and is Welch’s good faith estimate as of the date of this posting. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for participation in a bonus plan.