Sanitation Manager

SANITATION MANAGER

At Ideation, we turn great food ideas into products people love. We are a growing food manufacturing and co-manufacturing company based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in the development, production, packaging, and fulfillment of innovative baked and better-for-you food products.

From cookies and brownies to donuts, bars, snacks, and specialty products, we work with both emerging and established brands to take a product from an idea in the R&D kitchen all the way to the finished product that reaches consumers.

We believe in working together, treating people with respect, communicating openly, and supporting one another. We want our employees to learn, grow, take ownership of their work, and know that what they do matters. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, being part of a team, learning new things, and taking pride in producing something you can see on a store shelf, Ideation may be the place for you.

Come grow with us. Be better than yesterday.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Sanitation Manager is responsible for providing strong, hands-on leadership to the Sanitation Department and ensuring the facility consistently meets or exceeds all applicable personnel safety, food safety, sanitation, regulatory, customer, and company requirements.

The Sanitation Manager is accountable for the effective execution and continuous improvement of the facility's sanitation and cleaning programs. This includes ensuring that production areas, processing equipment, utensils, tools, facilities, and supporting areas are properly cleaned and sanitized in accordance with federal, state, local, customer, SQF, and company requirements.

The Sanitation Manager will work closely with Quality Assurance/Quality Control, Operations, Maintenance, and Safety Compliance leadership to ensure the facility is properly prepared for production and that sanitation activities support food safety, product quality, employee safety, and operational efficiency.

This is a working leadership position requiring active participation in daily sanitation activities, facility inspections, special projects, employee training, and operational problem-solving. The Sanitation Manager is expected to lead by example, establish clear performance expectations, develop and coach employees, and maintain a high level of accountability throughout the department.

The Sanitation Manager will exercise independent judgment when addressing operational issues and will be responsible for communicating significant issues, corrective actions, and recommendations to management. The position is also responsible for identifying opportunities to improve sanitation methods, employee performance, productivity, efficiency, and overall plant sanitation standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Sanitation & Food Safety

• Lead the Sanitation Department in maintaining a safe, clean, and sanitary manufacturing environment.
• Ensure sanitation activities comply with applicable SQF, GMP, OSHA, food safety, allergen control, customer, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Ensure proper cleaning and sanitation of production equipment, processing areas, floors, walls, ceilings, drains, tools, utensils, and other facility areas.
• Develop, implement, and maintain sanitation procedures and cleaning standards consistent with company and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure proper handling, dilution, labeling, storage, and use of cleaning chemicals and sanitation equipment.
• Promote safe chemical-handling practices and ensure employees use required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Understand the manufacturing process and equipment design to ensure effective sanitation while protecting equipment integrity and supporting efficient production start-up.
• Work closely with QA/QC to support pre-operational inspections, sanitation verification, environmental monitoring activities, corrective actions, and audit readiness.
• Identify sanitation deficiencies and coordinate appropriate corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Ensure sanitation activities are completed within established timeframes without compromising food safety or sanitation effectiveness.

Department Leadership & Employee Development

• Provide daily leadership, direction, supervision, and accountability to all sanitation employees.
• Establish clear work standards, procedures, and performance expectations while consistently leading by example.
• Prepare and communicate weekly sanitation staffing and work assignment schedules based on production requirements and departmental priorities.
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, and development of sanitation personnel.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance management to promote employee development and accountability.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations and document performance-related discussions and corrective actions as required.
• Maintain a positive, professional, and respectful work environment that promotes teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure sanitation employees receive appropriate training related to GMPs, food safety, chemical handling, PPE, equipment sanitation, OSHA requirements, and company procedures.

Operations & Cross-Functional Support

• Partner with Operations and other management teams to ensure sanitation activities support production schedules and operational requirements.
• Plan sanitation activities and staffing requirements to meet established deadlines and production start-up times.
• Respond to operational sanitation needs and participate in special projects as required.
• Identify potential operational issues and work collaboratively with management to develop practical solutions.
• Support the planning and execution of deep-cleaning activities, facility projects, equipment cleaning projects, and other sanitation initiatives.
• Coordinate with Maintenance regarding equipment conditions, repairs, accessibility, and design considerations that affect sanitation effectiveness.
• Maintain an active presence on the production floor and sanitation areas to monitor performance and address issues in real time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience & Education

• Previous experience in a sanitation leadership or management role within a food manufacturing, bakery, warehouse, or similar production environment preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of sanitation practices, GMPs, allergen control, chemical handling, OSHA requirements, and SQF standards.
• Experience supervising, training, and developing employees in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with sanitation schedules, inspections, documentation, inventory, and departmental reporting.
• Experience working collaboratively with Quality Assurance, Operations, Maintenance, and Safety teams preferred.

Technical Skills

• Ability to understand and follow written sanitation procedures, SOPs, SSOPs, safety procedures, and food safety requirements.
• Basic mathematical and counting skills required for inventory, chemical usage, measurements, and departmental documentation.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and complete required reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to understand equipment and production processes sufficiently to determine appropriate sanitation methods and requirements.

CORE COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and employee-management skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and take appropriate action when addressing operational issues.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to food safety and sanitation excellence.
• Ability to hold employees accountable while maintaining a professional and respectful work environment.
• Ability to adapt to changing operational requirements and work effectively in an environment where priorities may change quickly.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and employee development.

WORK SCHEDULE

Position: Full-Time

The Sanitation Manager must maintain open availability to support the operational needs of the facility. The position may require work during nights, weekends, holidays, and other non-traditional hours, including overtime, based on production schedules, sanitation requirements, special projects, and business needs.

POSITION EXPECTATIONS

The Sanitation Manager is expected to serve as a visible and engaged leader who maintains a high standard of accountability throughout the Sanitation Department. The individual in this position must ensure that sanitation activities are completed safely, efficiently, consistently, and in accordance with established food safety and sanitation standards.

The Sanitation Manager is responsible for developing a knowledgeable and accountable sanitation team, maintaining strong partnerships with other departments, identifying opportunities for improvement, and ensuring the facility remains clean, sanitary, safe, and ready for production.

Success in this position requires a strong commitment to food safety, employee safety, sanitation excellence, regulatory compliance, teamwork, employee development, productivity, and continuous improvement.