Sanitation Manager

Sanitation Manager

Southern California, CA | Exempt | $130,000+ Annually

Reports To

VP of Operations

Location

San Diego, CA

Compensation

$130,000+ | 10% Bonus Target

Role Summary

A growing food manufacturer is seeking a Quality Advisor to serve as an internal subject matter expert and trusted advisor on food safety and quality systems across its manufacturing operations. This role is designed for a senior practitioner who assesses current-state programs, identifies gaps, and provides expert guidance to operational and quality teams without carrying direct management responsibility.

The right candidate brings deep technical knowledge, strong cross-functional influence skills, and the credibility to drive meaningful change through collaboration rather than authority. This is a strategic advisory role with real operational impact.

Core Responsibilities

Program Assessment & Advisory

Evaluate current food safety and quality programs against SQF, FDA, and customer standards, identifying gaps and recommending prioritized improvements

Advise on the structure and design of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Master Cleaning Schedules, and pre-operational inspection protocols

Provide expert guidance on transitioning contracted hygiene and cleaning functions to in-house execution, including staffing model recommendations and implementation roadmaps

Food Safety & Compliance Consulting

Serve as the facility's internal subject matter expert on food safety systems, hygienic design, environmental controls, and cleaning and disinfection chemistry

Advise FSQA and Operations teams on maintaining continuous audit readiness for SQF, customer, and regulatory reviews

Guide corrective action development and root cause analysis processes following food safety or quality events

Performance Metrics & Continuous Improvement

Recommend KPI frameworks and measurement systems to assess program effectiveness, including:

Pre-operational inspection pass rates

ATP and microbiological environmental monitoring results

Re-work and re-cleaning rates

Labor efficiency

Production downtime attributable to food safety or hygiene events

Master Cleaning Schedule attainment

Analyze data and inspection results to identify trends, validate effectiveness, and inform continuous improvement priorities

Operational Efficiency Guidance

Advise on optimization opportunities across labor deployment, chemical usage, water consumption, and cleaning methodologies

Identify and recommend process improvements that reduce production downtime related to food safety and hygiene operations

Support wastewater reduction initiatives including management of high-BOD/TSS processes

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with FSQA, Maintenance, HR, and Operations teams to align on food safety priorities and implementation strategies

Coordinate with chemical suppliers, equipment vendors, and external compliance partners to evaluate and recommend programs appropriate for the facility

Advise on tools, equipment, and systems to standardize documentation, verification, and reporting across quality operations

Qualifications

8+ years of food safety and quality operations experience in food manufacturing, with bakery experience preferred

Demonstrated expertise building, assessing, or significantly restructuring food safety programs in a manufacturing environment

Strong working knowledge of SQF standards, HACCP principles, SSOP development and validation, and environmental monitoring programs

Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive change without direct management authority

Experience advising on or managing hygiene and food safety programs across multiple shifts, including overnight operations

Analytical mindset with the ability to assess program performance data and translate findings into actionable recommendations

Experience managing or advising on budgets, labor models, and operational performance metrics

Bachelor's degree preferred

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Regular presence on the production floor in wet, cold, and variable temperature environments

Exposure to industrial cleaning chemistry and food safety equipment

Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 50 lbs as needed

Flexibility to work varied hours in alignment with operational schedules as needed

Benefits

The company offers a competitive benefits package that may include:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and paid sick leave in accordance with California law

Paid holidays and floating holidays

Career growth and development opportunities

NextLevel Executive Search LLC