About the position
Darigold in Sunnyside, WA, is seeking a Food Safety Sanitation Manager with a robust background in dairy or food manufacturing. The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of 10 years of experience in the industry, with at least 5 years dedicated to sanitation and clean-in-place (CIP) systems. This role is pivotal in driving continuous improvement in cleaning and sanitation technologies, ensuring that all practices are aligned with food safety and efficacy standards. The Food Safety Sanitation Manager will serve as the technical expert in various sanitation processes, including CIP, clean-out-of-place (COP), and the chemistry of cleaners, while also staying abreast of current best practices in sanitation and food safety programs. The responsibilities of this position include overseeing sanitation effectiveness, assessing related programs such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Master Sanitation, Environmental Monitoring, and the development of Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOPs). The manager will collaborate closely with operations, sanitation, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), engineering, and quality departments to meet quality and food safety expectations while preventing sanitation-related food safety failures. The role also involves updating and maintaining food safety programs, conducting audits, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer food safety requirements. In addition to managing the sanitation program, the Food Safety Sanitation Manager will lead training initiatives, monitor sanitation programs, and provide support for GFSI and customer audits. The position requires a proactive approach to troubleshooting food safety and sanitation issues, as well as the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. The successful candidate will also be responsible for maintaining sanitation Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and driving continuous improvement within the sanitation department.
Responsibilities
- Assist plant in updating and maintaining current food safety programs.
- Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, allergen/cross-contamination prevention, and environmental pathogen control.
- Assist the Quality Manager in conducting annual Food Safety audits.
- Oversee complaint reporting, tracking, and trending.
- Audit, review, and assist in the application of HACCP and Risk mitigation principles and practices.
- Monitor, maintain, and continuously upgrade sanitation programs related to food safety and compliance.
- Develop, implement, and train on new food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
- Lead and manage the plantwide sanitation program to achieve KPI results.
- Supervise, train, and develop sanitation employees.
- Collaborate with other departments to define sanitation activities and resources needed for the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS).
- Act as plant contact for sanitation chemical vendor and maintain sanitation equipment.
- Perform routine sanitation inspections and verify efficacy through visual inspection and microbiological testing.
- Support compliance with GFSI, FSMA, FDA, OSHA, and State and Local regulations.
- Work with corporate sanitation to troubleshoot sanitation, food safety, and quality issues at the plant level.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in Dairy or other Food processing, preferably with a B.S. Degree in Food/Dairy Science/Microbiology.
- 5+ years' experience in dairy or other food processing sanitation and knowledge of CIP systems.
- 3+ years of supervisory experience in a food manufacturing environment, preferably in plant sanitation.
- Practical experience in food microbiology and food pathogen control.
- Experience working in HACCP-controlled food processing systems.
Nice-to-haves
- In-depth knowledge of cleaning and sanitation practices in a food facility, preferably a dairy facility.
- Good understanding of cleaning practices in dry and wet environments.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
- Excellent skills in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to facilitate the implementation of corporate quality systems in a positive and proactive manner.
Benefits
- Employer 401K contribution of up to 9%
- Comprehensive medical, dental & vision benefits
- Employer paid life & disability coverage
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- 8 weeks paid parental leave
- Education assistance
- Employee assistance program
