Sanitation Manager

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.