Sanitation Manager

Join a growing food manufacturer as their next Sanitation Manager and lead the transformation of a critical sanitation operation from outsourced support to a fully owned, best-in-class in-house program. This highly visible leadership role offers the opportunity to build systems, develop teams, strengthen food safety culture, and drive operational excellence across multiple manufacturing facilities in the San Diego area.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role for someone who thrives on accountability, floor presence, and continuous improvement, not just managing from behind a desk. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in food manufacturing sanitation, experience leading large teams across multiple shifts, and a passion for building programs that improve food safety, efficiency, and overall plant performance.

Required Skills:

• 8+ years of sanitation experience within food manufacturing, preferably bakery, snack, or ingredient manufacturing
• Proven leadership experience managing sanitation teams of 25+ employees across multiple shifts, including overnight operations
• Strong knowledge of SQF standards, HACCP principles, SSOP development, MSS programs, and environmental monitoring
• Demonstrated success building, rebuilding, or significantly improving sanitation programs and team performance
• Hands-on operational leadership style with strong floor presence and accountability mindset
• Experience utilizing KPIs, ATP data, labor metrics, and sanitation performance data to drive improvements
• Strong understanding of audit readiness, food safety compliance, and regulatory expectations
• Ability to effectively manage labor, budgets, staffing, and sanitation efficiency initiatives

Nice to Have Skills:

• Bilingual Spanish skills are a plus
• Experience with wastewater reduction initiatives (BOD/TSS)
• Knowledge of hygienic design, sanitation equipment, chemical programs, and environmental controls
• Experience reducing downtime through sanitation process improvements
• Background working closely with FSQA, Maintenance, Operations, and HR teams

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required
• Experience within bakery, snack food, or ingredient manufacturing environments highly preferred

Other Requirements:

• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and off-shift hours as needed
• Ability to work in wet, cold, and variable production environments
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 50 lbs as needed
• Occasional travel may be required

If you enjoy building teams, improving systems, and leading sanitation operations with a strong sense of ownership and urgency, this is an opportunity to make a major impact within a growing food manufacturing organization.

Recruiter Information:
Stephanie Mattice
stephaniem@kinsa.com