Sanitation Manager

Sanitation Manager

The Sanitation Manager will oversee and lead sanitation operations across two IQF frozen fruit production facilities located in Clovis and Fresno, CA. This role is responsible for managing sanitation teams, ensuring compliance with regulatory and GFSI (SQF) standards, and maintaining hygienic conditions that support high-volume frozen fruit operations. The Sanitation Manager plays a critical role in enforcing food safety, preparing for audits, and driving continuous improvement in sanitation processes.

Duties include:

• Oversee sanitation activities at both facilities, ensuring execution of SSOPs, allergen sanitation, and pre-operational readiness.
• Direct and verify daily sanitation tasks, including teardown, COP/CIP, line changeovers, ATP/hygiene testing, and documentation.
• Ensure all equipment surfaces are cleaned to restore microbial safety and physical finish.
• Enforce proper chemical application rates, titrations, and safe handling per SDS.
• Manage the Master Sanitation Schedule (MSS) and verify completion of tasks via inspections.
• Serve as sanitation lead during SQF, FDA, USDA Organic, and customer audits.
• Conduct and verify pre-op inspections with Quality and Operations.
• Partner with QA and Maintenance to address hygienic design concerns and improve cleanability.
• Supervise sanitation teams, including Managers, Supervisors, Leads, and hourly staff.
• Provide training on PPE, lockout/tagout, chemical safety, equipment teardown/rebuild, and facility zoning.
• Drive improvements in sanitation efficiency, allergen control, and microbial control.
• Monitor and trend sanitation KPIs (ATP pass rates, swab results, chemical concentration accuracy).
• Standardize sanitation procedures, tools, training, and methods across both facilities.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of sanitation leadership in frozen food, produce, or high-care processing.
• Deep knowledge of sanitation chemicals, concentrations, and allergen sanitation.
• Experience managing MSS execution and verification programs (ATP, environmental monitoring).
• Proven leadership in GFSI, FDA, or USDA audit preparation.
• Strong communication skills; bilingual English/Spanish highly preferred.
• Ability to travel between Clovis and Fresno locations and flex across shifts/weekends.
• Comfortable working in wet, cold, and fast-paced environments.

Preferred:

• HACCP and PCQI certified.
• SQF Practitioner or equivalent GFSI audit experience.
• Experience with stainless-steel surface restoration and sanitation equipment (COP/CIP, foamers, titration kits).

This position will work across our Clovis and Fresno facilities.

Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Sick Leave
• Wawona Wednesdays, seasonal appreciation events, company apparel, Employee of the Month recognition
• Opportunity to work with great people and make a real impact while being your authentic self at work

Why should you apply?

We learn together. We believe in supporting employees with training, resources, and tools for success. We invest in our people, celebrate achievements, and foster long-term careers. We build relationships, encourage innovation, and value contributions from every team member. Our work environment supports collaboration, problem-solving, and growth. We take pride in our history, our people, and our products-and we're committed to delivering the best fruit products and being a trusted partner in our customers' success.

Physical and/or mental demands:

• Work in environments with medium to loud noise, cold temperatures, and wet/humid conditions.
• Stand, walk, and reach with hands/arms; occasional sitting, talking, or hearing.
• Lift/move up to 45 lbs. occasionally.
• Exposure to mechanical parts, extreme cold, vibration, and cleaning agents.
• Wear required PPE and adhere to dress code for food manufacturing.

Additional information:

Applicants must be fully authorized to work in the U.S. and physically present in the U.S.

Wawona Frozen Foods is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected factor.

Notice to recruiters, employment agencies, and/or vendors: Wawona Frozen Foods does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies without a signed agreement. Unsolicited submissions will not obligate Wawona Frozen Foods to pay referral fees.