Sanitation Manager

Reports To: Director of Quality and Food Safety Direct Reports: Sanitation Working Foreperson Sanitation Assistants Custodians Position Summary The Sanitation Manager is responsible for leading all sanitation operations for a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week food manufacturing facility. This position provides strategic leadership to ensure the facility consistently meets the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. The successful candidate will possess a strong technical background in food plant sanitation, environmental microbiology, sanitary design, chemical handling, automated cleaning systems, and food safety programs. Beyond managing daily sanitation activities, the Sanitation Manager is expected to think critically, challenge existing processes, and continuously improve sanitation practices to increase efficiency, reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, and support uninterrupted production across multiple manufacturing lines. This leader must balance regulatory compliance with operational efficiency while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, safety, and continuous improvement. Essential Functions and ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Strategy Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Company's sanitation strategy, policies, procedures, and long-term sanitation programs. Lead the sanitation department in achieving world-class food safety and sanitation performance. Develop annual departmental goals, budgets, capital improvement recommendations, and performance metrics. Build a culture focused on accountability, teamwork, employee development, and continuous improvement. Think critically and strategically to identify opportunities for improving sanitation methods, cleaning processes, equipment design, chemical applications, labor utilization, and overall operational efficiency. Research and implement innovative sanitation technologies, equipment, chemicals, and best practices that improve food safety while reducing cleaning time and production downtime. Evaluate sanitation processes using data and root cause analysis to improve productivity and eliminate recurring issues. Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Operations to improve equipment cleanability and sanitation effectiveness. Operational Excellence Ensure the facility is cleaned, sanitized, inspected, and fully prepared to begin production safely and on schedule every day. Support a 24/7 manufacturing operation by developing sanitation programs that maximize equipment uptime while minimizing operational interruptions. Coordinate sanitation activities across multiple production lines to ensure production schedules are met with minimal downtime. Develop cleaning schedules that balance regulatory compliance with operational efficiency. Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance Ensure compliance with all FDA, USDA (where applicable), SQF, GMP, HACCP, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and company food safety requirements. Maintain sanitation programs that exceed third-party audit expectations including SQF, AIB, customer audits, and regulatory inspections. Participate in internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and pre-operational inspections. Ensure all sanitation documentation is accurate, complete, and audit-ready. Safety Leadership Promote a culture where employee safety is a core value. Ensure compliance with all OSHA requirements and company safety policies including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space, chemical safety, PPE, machine guarding, and safe equipment operation. Conduct regular safety observations and training while driving continuous improvement in workplace safety. Department Management Manage sanitation staffing, scheduling, performance management, coaching, discipline, hiring, and employee development. Develop supervisors and future sanitation leaders. Maintain sanitation chemical inventory, vendor relationships, purchasing, and cost control. Monitor department performance through measurable KPIs including sanitation effectiveness, audit scores, downtime, labor efficiency, chemical usage, and equipment readiness. Maintain effective communication with Production, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Human Resources, and Executive Leadership. Other Responsibilities Perform additional duties as assigned in support of Company objectives. Required Skills and Abilities Excellent leadership, coaching, and employee development skills. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Exceptional organizational and project management abilities. Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives. Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles is preferred. Ability to prioritize multiple projects while meeting deadlines. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency call-ins as required to support a 24/7 manufacturing operation. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, Engineering, Industrial Management, or a related field preferred. Five or more years of progressive sanitation leadership experience within a food manufacturing environment. Thorough knowledge of: GMPs HACCP SQF Sanitary Design CIP/COP Systems Chemical Handling Food Safety Regulations Experience working with regulatory agencies and third-party audit organizations including: FDA New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets SQF AIB BRCGS Customer Audits The Sanitation Manager is expected to be more than a department manager. This individual serves as a strategic operational leader responsible for continuously improving sanitation systems that protect food safety while supporting production. Success in this role requires critical thinking, innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to keeping a complex, multi-line, 24/7 food manufacturing operation operating safely, efficiently, and with as little downtime as possible. The Sanitation Manager is expected to challenge the status quo, implement best practices, and build a sanitation program that becomes a competitive advantage for DeIorio Foods, Inc. Candidates should possess skills in Quality Assurance and Food Safety to manage sanitation standards, support audits, and ensure regulatory compliance. Candidates should possess skills in Food Science and Food Manufacturing to understand production processes, product characteristics, and the impact of sanitation on product quality. Candidates should possess skills in Training to effectively coach, instruct, and develop sanitation team members on procedures, safety, and best practices. Experience in supervisory or management roles within a food manufacturing or related environment is highly beneficial. Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and relevant FDA/USDA or state food safety regulations is preferred. Strong organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Ability to work on-site in Utica, NY, collaborate across teams, and communicate clearly in both written and verbal formats. An associate or bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Microbiology, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience, is advantageous. #J-18808-Ljbffr