Sanitation Manager

he Sanitation Manager is responsible for overseeing all sanitation, hygiene, and food safety programs within an ice cream manufacturing facility. This role provides strategic leadership and direction to the sanitation team, including Sanitation Supervisors, ensures compliance with Canadian regulatory requirements and industry standards. The Sanitation Manager ensures the facility maintains the highest standards of cleanliness and food safety while supporting operational efficiency, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Sanitation Programs & Strategy

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS)
• Establish and standardize Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs)
• Ensure sanitation programs meet all requirements for dairy and frozen dessert production

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop Sanitation Supervisors and sanitation staff
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, performance management, and succession planning
• Foster a strong culture of food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement

Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure full compliance with food safety systems including HACCP, GMP, and regulatory bodies such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• Oversee audit readiness and lead internal and external audits (e.g., CFIA, third-party audits such as SQF/BRC
• Ensure compliance with Ontario regulations including OHSA and WHMIS

Inspection & Verification

• Oversee pre-operational inspections and sanitation verification programs
• Ensure equipment and production areas meet cleanliness standards prior to startup
• Review environmental monitoring results and overall sanitation effectiveness

Chemical & Resource Management

• Manage sanitation chemical programs, including procurement, inventory control, and vendor relationships
• Ensure proper chemical usage, dilution, and compliance with safety standards
• Manage and monitor sanitation-related operating and capital expenditures

Problem Solving & Corrective Actions

• Lead investigations into sanitation failures, contamination risks, and audit findings
• Implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs)
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Production to resolve complex food safety issues

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Production, Quality Assurance, and Maintenance teams
• Support production efficiency while maintaining sanitation standards

Continuous Improvement & Performance

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance sanitation efficiency and reduce downtime
• Establish, monitor, and report on KPIs (audit scores, environmental swabs, labour efficiency, sanitation effectiveness)
• Implement industry best practices specific to dairy and ice cream processing

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of sanitation experience in food manufacturing
• 3+ years in a leadership role (Supervisor or Manager level)

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of: – HACCP, GMP, and food safety systems – CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems – Canadian regulatory requirements (CFIA) – WHMIS and chemical safety
• Familiarity with third-party audit standards (SQF, BRC) is an asset

Skills

• Strong leadership and team development capabilities
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and reporting skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Physical Demands

• Ability to occasionally lift moderately heavy items
• Frequent walking, standing, and plant floor presence
• Work in wet and fast-paced environments
• Typical workweek of approximately 44 hours
• Early start to overlap with night shift operations
• Flexibility to support off-shift sanitation activities as required

At Chapman’s, compensation is guided by a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes and rewards individual contributions.

$75,000 to $110,000 annually, based on experience, skills, and internal equity.

In addition to base wages, employees will be eligible for:

• Regular wage reviews as part of a comprehensive total rewards package
• Retirement savings program, including a company-matching pension plan to support long-term financial planning
• Comprehensive extended health, dental, life, and disability benefits
• Mental health support as part of the benefits program