Sanitation Manager - Food Manufacturing

I. Rice & Company is looking for a hands-on Sanitation Supervisor to lead sanitation operations in our food manufacturing facility. This position is responsible for making sure the plant, equipment, and production areas are cleaned properly, safely, and in compliance with food safety standards.

The right candidate will have experience in food manufacturing sanitation, strong leadership skills, and the ability to work evenings and weekends when needed. This role works closely with Production, Quality Control, and Operations to keep the facility clean, safe, and audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

Sanitation Operations

• Lead daily sanitation activities on and off the production floor.
• Develop, follow, and update sanitation procedures and cleaning schedules.
• Oversee facility-wide cleaning and janitorial needs.
• Make sure all equipment, production areas, and common areas are properly cleaned and ready for use.

Food Safety and Compliance

• Ensure sanitation practices meet company standards, GMPs, food safety requirements, and regulatory guidelines.
• Prepare for inspections, audits, and customer visits.
• Stay aware of food safety and sanitation requirements and help update practices as needed.

Team Leadership

• Supervise, train, and support sanitation team members.
• Teach proper cleaning methods, chemical handling, safety procedures, and sanitation expectations.
• Hold team members accountable for performance, attendance, safety, and quality of work.

Inspections and Corrective Actions

• Conduct regular inspections to make sure sanitation standards are being met.
• Identify issues and take corrective action when cleaning standards are not followed.
• Work with Production and Quality Control to resolve sanitation or food safety concerns.

Chemical and Supply Management

• Manage sanitation chemicals, supplies, and equipment.
• Ensure chemicals are used safely, properly diluted, and stored correctly.
• Monitor inventory and help control sanitation supply costs.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate sanitation records, inspection logs, and corrective action reports.
• Report sanitation performance, issues, and improvement opportunities to management.
• Support documentation needed for audits and regulatory requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Look for ways to improve sanitation processes, efficiency, and team performance.
• Help implement better cleaning methods, tools, and procedures without compromising food safety.

Qualifications

• Experience in sanitation within a food manufacturing or food processing environment.
• Previous experience leading or supervising a sanitation team preferred.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety, cleaning procedures, and chemical safety.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and flexible hours as needed.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with Production, Quality Control, Maintenance, and Operations.
• Must be reliable, organized, and hands-on.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who takes pride in keeping a food plant clean, safe, and audit-ready. This person should be comfortable leading a team, holding people accountable, and working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years of sanitation supervisory or management experience in a food manufacturing or food processing facility.
• Knowledge of GFSI standards preferred, such as SQF, BRC, or ISO.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety, sanitation procedures, and chemical safety.
• Proficient computer skills, including strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Self-starter who is motivated, reliable, and able to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task and follow through on assigned responsibilities.
• Must be flexible and available to work evenings, weekends, and adjusted schedules as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Weekly pay with direct deposit
• Health insurance
• Various supplemental insurance policies available after 90-day introductory period
• Life insurance available after completion of 90-day introductory period
• 401-K retirement plan available after one year of employment
• Annual bonus incentives