Sanitation Manager

Job Description

Position: Sanitation Manager

Department: Sanitation

Reports to: Plant Manager

Date: April 2025

About the Company:

Water Lilies Food, LLC is a private equity-backed manufacturer and distributor of premium Asian-inspired food.Established for 25 years, the company moved in 2020 to a new state-of-the-art facility in Bay Shore, NY (Suffolk County, Long Island) and is experiencing rapid growth. We are developing and supplying product for some of the leading retailers, wholesalers, and branded Asian-appetizer businesses. Our Vision is to be the preferred supplying partner of premium Asian-inspired food.We achieve this by living up to our Mission to deliver our products and services with attention to detail, a continuous improvement mindset, agility, and authenticity. Our culture is a place where employees can have a meaningful impact on the business and organization. We work collaboratively and humbly strive to get better every day while being respectful of all talents and backgrounds. The company is embarking on another major expansion project and is expecting to more than double the business in the next 3-5 years.

Job Summary:

The Sanitation Manager is responsible for leading and managing all sanitation operations, to drive improved sanitation execution, improve product consistency, and waste reduction within our USDA-regulated food manufacturing facility. This role ensures that all cleaning and sanitizing procedures are effectively executed in compliance with USDA, FDA, HACCP, SQF, and GMP standards as well as company policies and procedures to ensure product safety and facility cleanliness. The Sanitation Manager is accountable for developing sanitation programs, managing sanitation teams, and always supporting food safety and audit readiness.

Responsibilities:

• Provide expertise and leadership in Sanitation programs.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) for equipment, facilities, and production areas.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety regulations, including USDA, FDA, GMPs, SSOPs, and HACCP.
• Supervise sanitation personnel across all shifts; schedule labor, assign duties, and monitor performance.
• Train and develop sanitation team members on proper cleaning methods, safety procedures, and the correct use of sanitation chemicals and PPE.
• Flexibility to work with the entire sanitation team by working with different shifts and weekends as required in a 24/7 operation.
• Provide guidance to plants on appropriate staffing levels and maximize and optimize sanitation labor utilization.
• Work closely with QA, Production, and Maintenance departments to coordinate cleaning cycles without disrupting operations.
• Monitor sanitation effectiveness using environmental monitoring, pre-op inspections, and ATP testing.
• Maintain accurate documentation of sanitation procedures, chemical usage logs, and verification records to ensure audit readiness.
• Lead and participate in USDA and third-party audits; follow up on non-conformances and implement corrective/preventive actions.
• Participate in regular meetings with Plant Manager to discuss quality and sanitation procedures effectiveness and efficiency, while driving continuous improvement of facility sanitation.
• Ensure proper handling and storage of cleaning chemicals in accordance with OSHA and USDA regulations.
• Ensure safety is maintained and continuously improved.
• Maintain a culture of continuous improvement through team coaching, training, and sanitation process optimization.

Requirements / Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Microbiology, Biology, or related field preferred; equivalent experience accepted.
• Working knowledge of FSMA, sanitary design, and total quality management principles.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of sanitation and Food Safety experience in a food manufacturing environment USDA regulated.
• Strong working knowledge of USDA regulations, HACCP, GMP, and food safety requirements.
• Working experience in a meat processing facility with Raw and RTE.
• Extensive experience creating, implementing, and enforcing sanitation procedures within a manufacturing environment with wet and dry sanitation.
• Experience in managing and training sanitation teams in a high-volume production facility.
• GFSI training/certification (preferably SQF and/or BRC)
• HACCP Certification
• Sanitary Design training preferred
• Ability to build, maintain and drive results.
• Proven ability to pass and support USDA, FDA, and third-party audits.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to work in a cold, wet, and humid environment.

Must be able to lift up-to-50 lbs., stand for extended periods, and wear required PPE.

Must be flexible to work nights, weekends, holidays, or rotating shifts as required by production schedules and operational needs.

The employee will occasionally move within the office to access office machinery, file cabinets, and collaborate with colleagues. Consistent use of office equipment, such equipment may include but not limited to computers, phones, printers, and copiers. The employee will be required to frequently communicate with both internal staff members as well as external parties or customers and must be able to convey accurate information. This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change based on company needs as expressed by management.