What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sanitation Manager position at Thrive Foods?
Job Title: Sanitation Manager
Department: Sanitation
Reports to: Plant Manager
Position Summary
Thrive Freeze Dry is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Sanitation Manager to lead sanitation operations within our 24/7 production facility. This role is instrumental in maintaining a safe, clean, and compliant manufacturing environment that supports our food safety and quality goals.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate Thrive Freeze Dry’s core values of accountability, continuous improvement, integrity, teamwork, personal growth, wellness, and work-life balance.
Key Responsibilities
Lead, oversee, and continuously improve all sanitation and janitorial activities across the facility to ensure safety, cleanliness, and compliance.
Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by fully understanding and executing Thrive Freeze Dry’s related policies and procedures.
Hold self and team members accountable to all food safety, quality, and sanitation guidelines, and report any incidents, observations, or opportunities to leadership.
Enforce adherence to Product Safety and Quality standards, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and SQF system requirements.
Ensure compliance with GMP standards for food-contact packaging and sanitation procedures as they apply to all staff.
Train, coach, and develop sanitation team members to maintain high standards of safety and performance.
Create and implement detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with visual aids, and lead team training initiatives accordingly.
Schedule team coverage efficiently across all shifts to support 24/7 operations.
Monitor and ensure proper use and safe handling of cleaning chemicals.
Conduct internal audits and inspections to ensure ongoing sanitation compliance.
Manage the facility’s pest control program, including vendor coordination, scheduling, and performance monitoring.
Track sanitation-related KPIs, identify areas for improvement, and report progress regularly.
Collaborate with production, quality, and maintenance teams to align on operational priorities and improvements.
Core Competencies
Leadership – Demonstrates integrity, inspires and motivates team members, and leads by example.
Food Safety Focus – Ensures that food safety and quality protocols are always upheld.
Communication – Delivers clear, effective communication and fosters open dialogue within and across departments.
Problem Solving – Proactively identifies issues and implements practical, data-based solutions.
Quality & Continuous Improvement – Commits to producing high-quality outcomes and seeks improvement opportunities.
Safety Awareness – Cultivates a strong safety culture and takes ownership of hazard prevention.
Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field preferred; equivalent industry experience considered.
Minimum of 5 years’ management experience in food manufacturing, specifically in sanitation leadership.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams using KPIs, metrics, and continuous improvement tools (Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Six Sigma).
Thorough understanding of food safety protocols, GMPs, HACCP, SQF systems, and sanitation standards.
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Experience with sanitation chemicals, tools, and equipment in a food production setting.
Food Safety & Quality Responsibilities
Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety, quality, and sanitation policies and procedures.
Hold self and others accountable to Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety, quality, and sanitation guidelines and policies.
Immediately report any food safety or quality incidents, observations, or improvement opportunities to leadership.
Adhere to and enforce all Product Safety and Quality standards, including GMPs related to food contact and sanitation practices.
Ensure full compliance with Thrive Freeze Dry’s SQF System, including all food safety, product defense, and quality objectives.
