Senior Hygiene & Sanitation Auditor

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Travel across South Africa

Professional development

Performance bonuses

Challenging work environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Hygiene & Sanitation Auditor for a leading food manufacturer operating across South Africa, including Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The role combines field audits with remote reporting and strategy development.

You will lead hygiene audits, develop corrective action plans, train site staff, and stay ahead of evolving food safety regulations. Extensive travel is required, with a hybrid work model balancing on-site assessments and reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in food safety, quality assurance, or sanitation management with auditing focus.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting internal or external audits for food manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, SSOPs and GFSI standards (e.g., FSSC 22000, BRCGS).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct comprehensive hygiene and sanitation audits across multiple food facilities.
• Assess compliance with internal standards, national regulations, and international food safety certifications (GFSI).
• Develop detailed audit reports, identifying non-conformities, risks, and areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with site management to implement corrective action plans.
• Provide expert technical support and training on hygiene practices and sanitation procedures.
• Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions at facilities.
• Stay updated on food safety legislation, industry trends, and tech advancements in sanitation.
• Contribute to development and refinement of global hygiene and sanitation standards.
• Mentor junior auditors and site hygiene personnel.
• Perform root cause analyses for recurring issues and propose systemic solutions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Influencing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading food manufacturing group with operations across South Africa, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Hygiene & Sanitation Auditor to enhance their quality assurance and compliance framework. This role is pivotal in ensuring that all facilities, including those in Kimberley, Northern Cape , adhere to the strictest hygiene and sanitation standards. You will conduct in-depth audits, develop corrective action plans, and provide expert guidance to site management. This hybrid position requires regular travel to various operational sites for on-site assessments, balanced with remote work for reporting, analysis, and strategic development. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of food safety regulations, auditing methodologies, and a proven track record in improving sanitation programs within complex manufacturing environments. Your expertise will be crucial in maintaining product integrity and consumer trust for our client in Kimberley and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct comprehensive hygiene and sanitation audits across multiple food manufacturing facilities.
• Assess compliance with internal standards, national regulations, and international food safety certifications (e.g., GFSI, HACCP).
• Develop detailed audit reports, identifying non-conformities, potential risks, and areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with site management teams to create and implement effective corrective action plans.
• Provide expert technical support and training to site personnel on hygiene best practices and sanitation procedures.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions taken by facilities.
• Stay abreast of evolving food safety legislation, industry trends, and technological advancements in sanitation.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of the company's global hygiene and sanitation standards.
• Mentor and guide junior auditors and site-level hygiene personnel.
• Perform root cause analysis for recurring hygiene issues and recommend systemic solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in food safety, quality assurance, or sanitation management, with a strong focus on auditing.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting internal or external audits for food manufacturing operations.
• In-depth knowledge of HACCP, GMP, SSOPs, and relevant GFSI standards (e.g., FSSC 22000, BRCGS).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Superior communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills.
• Ability to travel extensively to various sites, including Kimberley, Northern Cape .
• Proficiency in data analysis and report generation.
• Strong understanding of cleaning chemicals, equipment, and validation processes.
• Experience with regulatory inspections and dealing with food safety authorities is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Significant travel opportunities across South Africa.
• Opportunity to lead critical quality assurance initiatives for a major food manufacturer.
• Professional development and continuous training.
• Hybrid work arrangement, offering a blend of field and office/remote work.
• A dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Performance bonuses and recognition awards.