Job Title: Sanitation Manager
Location: Toledo, OH 43613
Position Type: Full-Time / Permanent
Shift: 3rd Shift
Industry: Food Manufacturing
Facility Type: Unionized
About the Role:
One of our clients is seeking a strong, hands-on Sanitation Manager to lead and elevate sanitation efforts in their food manufacturing facility in Toledo, OH. The ideal candidate brings CIP expertise, food safety knowledge, and people-first leadership , with a strong track record of training, coaching, and change management in unionized settings.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Management
- Directly lead the sanitation team
- Maintain high engagement by ensuring team members stay on task and productive.
- Manage conflict resolution and drive a culture of accountability and ownership.
- Provide training on sanitation procedures, food safety, PPE, and 5S principles.
Sanitation & Food Safety Compliance
- Oversee and enforce sanitation standards (including SSOPs, MSS, HACCP, SQF) across all production lines.
- Supervise CIP operations.
- Monitor and manage use of cleaning chemicals (e.g., acids, soaps, sanitizers).
- Conduct sanitation gap assessments, risk mitigation strategies, and internal audits.
- Ensure strong environmental monitoring and allergen/pathogen control programs.
- Partner with quality, operations, and engineering teams to identify and address sanitation and equipment needs.
Process Development & Continuous Improvement
- Drive improvements in sanitation KPIs, processes, and team performance.
- Lead and validate sanitation protocol implementations.
- Support 5S, GMP, and safety practices to maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free environment.
- Recommend capital improvements for sanitation infrastructure.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 8+ years of progressive experience in sanitation, quality assurance, or food safety within a food manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated knowledge of:
CIP and COP systems
Wet/dry cleaning methods
GMP, FDA, USDA regulations
HACCP principles and audit readiness
Sanitary equipment design and validation
- Union experience and ability to navigate labor dynamics.
- Strong record in safety, sanitation audits, and compliance metrics.
- Experience with environmental monitoring, pest control, and allergen management.
Preferred Certifications & Skills:
- Certified in REH/RS, CQA, or CQE (or similar sanitation/quality certifications).
- Familiarity with 5S methodology and Lean/CI tools.
- Experience with corporate sanitation standards and multi-plant systems development.