Sr. Sanitation Manager-Sanitation Fresh - Shift 3

Position Summary The Sr. Sanitation Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for sanitation programs across multiple facilities, including the Bakersfield campus and two regional operations. This role is responsible for developing and executing sanitation strategies that ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, food safety standards, and company policies while supporting operational efficiency. Position Information Director – Quality Assurance (Reporting to) FLSA Status: Exempt Shift: 3rd Employment Category: Full-time Regular Pay Range: $125,000 – $140,000 Travel Requirements: 20% Core Responsibilities Strategic Sanitation Leadership Develop and drive the long‑term sanitation strategy for the facility, ensuring alignment with company food safety objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. Lead sanitation readiness and response strategies for regulatory inspections, third‑party audits, and customer audits, ensuring the facility maintains continuous compliance and audit preparedness. Identify sanitation‑related food safety risks, operational gaps, and pathogen control vulnerabilities, and implement preventive controls and continuous improvement initiatives. Serve as the subject matter expert for sanitation and hygienic practices, providing guidance to Operations, Food Safety & Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering leadership. Drive sanitation‑related capital improvement initiatives, including equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and hygienic design enhancements to improve cleanability and reduce contamination risks. Establish sanitation performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure sanitation effectiveness, drive accountability, and support operational excellence. Lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action efforts related to sanitation failures, environmental monitoring positives, or food‑safety deviations. Operational Oversight Direct and monitor daily sanitation activities across production areas, processing equipment, and facility infrastructure for the Bakersfield Campus and two regional campuses. Ensure sanitation schedules and procedures support production requirements while maintaining strict sanitation compliance. Identify sanitation risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies to maintain food safety integrity. Travel 20% annually to regional facilities in Washington and Georgia to support sanitation program alignment, conduct site assessments, provide leadership guidance, and ensure consistent execution of sanitation and food‑safety standards across all operations. Team Leadership & Development Lead and develop the sanitation leadership structure to ensure consistent execution of sanitation programs, clear accountability, and effective communication across the facility. Foster a culture of accountability, food‑safety ownership, and continuous improvement within the sanitation organization. Provide coaching, leadership development, and performance management to supervisors, leads, and sanitation personnel. Ensure all team members are properly trained on sanitation procedures, chemical handling, equipment cleaning protocols, food‑safety standards, and safety requirements. Support workforce planning, training initiatives, and employee engagement efforts to maintain a capable and high‑performing sanitation team. Compliance & Food Safety Ensure facility sanitation practices comply with regulatory requirements, internal policies, and customer expectations. Partner with Quality Assurance and Food Safety teams to investigate sanitation‑related issues and implement corrective actions. Lead sanitation readiness for regulatory inspections, third‑party audits, and customer audits. Support environmental monitoring and sanitation verification programs. Oversee procurement and inventory management of sanitation chemicals, supplies, and equipment. Ensure proper chemical usage, storage, and documentation in accordance with safety and regulatory requirements. Coordinate with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure proper equipment cleaning, design, and functionality. Documentation & Reporting Ensure accurate documentation of sanitation procedures, verification activities, chemical usage, sanitation records, wash permits, and Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) cleaning activities. Review and verify wash permits and MSS cleaning schedules to ensure proper execution, regulatory compliance, and alignment with facility sanitation standards. Analyze sanitation data and performance metrics to identify trends, risks, and continuous improvement opportunities. Provide regular updates and sanitation performance reports to senior leadership, highlighting sanitation effectiveness, compliance status, and improvement initiatives. Environmental & APC Monitoring & Verification Partner with Food Safety and Quality teams to review environmental monitoring results, identify trends, and implement corrective and preventive actions. Collaborate with Quality and Operations to ensure Zone 1 food‑contact surfaces are cleaned and sanitized appropriately, using APC results and sanitation verification data to validate cleaning effectiveness. Ensure appropriate sanitation responses and intensified cleaning procedures are implemented when environmentally positive or sanitation deviations occur. Drive continuous improvement in environmental monitoring strategies to strengthen pathogen control and sanitation verification. Hygienic Design & Sanitary Infrastructure Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations to ensure equipment and facility infrastructure meet hygienic design standards. Provide sanitation leadership in new equipment installations, facility modifications, and capital projects to ensure cleanability and sanitation efficiency. Identify and mitigate sanitary design risks related to equipment, drains, traffic flow, and facility layout. Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance sanitation effectiveness, reduce contamination risks, and improve operational efficiency. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner with Production, Maintenance, Food Safety & Quality, and EHS to support operational goals while maintaining sanitation compliance. Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to sanitation, hygiene design, and operational efficiency. Support implementation of sanitation best practices and industry standards. Oversee operations in both the Bakersfield Campus and two regional campuses. Required Skills And Abilities Deep knowledge of sanitation programs, food safety systems, and regulatory compliance. Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage large teams in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives and sanitation program optimization. Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities. Effective communication with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams. Strong organizational and operational planning skills. Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or GED and five years’ experience in a related field, or a combination of education and experience. 7+ years of sanitation, food safety, or operations experience in a manufacturing or food production environment. 3+ years of leadership or management experience. Bilingual in Spanish required. Verifiable safe vehicle operation history and meet company driving eligibility standards. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Microbiology, or a related field. HACCP, Food Safety, or Sanitation certification. Experience leading sanitation programs within a regulated food manufacturing environment. OSHA 10‑hour certification. Experience with Lean, 5S, or continuous improvement methodologies. Physical Demands Exposure to cold, wet, dry, and hot conditions (≤34°F or ≥90°F). Exposure to mechanical parts ranging from freezing to 350°F. Exposure to hazards such as moving machinery, electrical current, and chemicals. Ability to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 lbs. Ability to ascend and descend ladders, scaffolding, and use 3‑point contact regularly. Ability to use hands and arms to grasp, manipulate, and handle scanning objects in one position or in repetitive motions for an extended period. Ability to stand for long periods. Support weekends and holidays as needed. Hours & Work Days 3rd Shift (11:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.), Tuesday through Saturday, with mandatory business hours before/after, holidays, and weekends as required. Benefits Medical Dental Vision Group Life and AD&D Voluntary Life and AD&D Group Short‑Term Disability Group Long‑Term Disability Flexible Spending Accounts Employee Assistance Program 401(k) Paid Time Off Equal Employment Opportunity Bolthouse Fresh Foods is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr