Sanitation Superintendent

Role overview

This position reports to the Plant QA Manager and is accountable for running the sanitation program for the third shift in a food manufacturing facility. The role ensures the Master Sanitation Schedule is carried out, supports less-than-daily cleaning tasks, maintains chemical safety standards, keeps sanitation records accurate, and helps the site stay compliant with regulatory and internal requirements. A key part of the job is building a capable sanitation team, working closely with the chemical supplier, and keeping the plant ready for audits every day while protecting employee safety, food safety, and product quality.

The Superintendent leads third-shift sanitation operations so the facility is cleaned, sanitized, and cleared for pre-op on schedule and to the required standards.

Shift details

This is a third-shift role. Typical working hours are either 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm or 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Key responsibilities

• Direct, mentor, train, and build a team of 20 to 25 hourly sanitation associates, while setting priorities and making sure required safety, food safety, quality, and sanitation training is completed.
• Own the third-shift sanitation program and ensure it aligns with the Master Sanitation Schedule, food safety expectations, regulatory obligations, internal procedures, and audit-readiness requirements.
• Monitor daily, weekly, and scheduled cleaning work so pre-operational release happens on time, product integrity is protected, sanitation KPIs are met, and employees work safely.
• Strengthen the site’s safety culture, especially around chemical handling, storage, dispensing, PPE use, and safe sanitation practices.
• Oversee sanitation chemicals, tools, PPE, supplies, and equipment, including correct chemical strength, titration checks, recordkeeping, stock control, and equipment readiness.
• Act as the main third-shift contact for sanitation and chemical supplier partners, supporting training, cost management, and program performance.
• Work with Maintenance, QA, Scheduling, Warehouse, and Dry Storage teams to solve sanitation issues, support production start-up, and keep communication clear with plant leadership.
• Keep sanitation logs, shift updates, and performance reports accurate, identify gaps, support corrective and preventive actions and root cause analysis, and drive improvement through data review and process optimization.

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience in sanitation or food safety within food manufacturing is required; experience in a unionized environment is preferred.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred, though it is not mandatory.
• HACCP certification and exposure to third-party audits are strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of sanitation standards, chemical safety, and regulatory expectations in food manufacturing.
• Proven leadership ability with the skill to motivate teams, deliver training, and ensure accountability.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to handle conflict professionally while maintaining positive working relationships.
• Willingness to work third shift and adapt schedules as business needs change.
• Dependable, level-headed, assertive, and able to stay effective under pressure.

Compensation and benefits

A competitive salary is offered. The role also includes health, dental, and vision coverage; performance-based incentives; employee and family assistance; wellness programs; retirement planning; supplemental parental leave; disability support; volunteer hours; learning and mentoring opportunities; and a safety-focused workplace.

Additional information

Current employees are eligible for a referral bonus for this role, subject to policy details.

About the company

Founded in 1899 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, the company has developed from a small salt fish business into a major North American producer and marketer of value-added frozen seafood. Its brands are sold to families, restaurants, and institutions across Canada and the United States.

The organization is guided by a mission to reimagine seafood to nourish life, combining long experience with innovation, consumer insight, and responsible practices. It describes itself as a people-first employer that invests in employee development, collaboration, safety, well-being, and growth across offices, plants, and distribution teams.

Values

• Serve with purpose: put customers and consumers first by creating quality products that nourish lives and strengthen connections.
• Do the right thing: act with integrity, responsibility, and care for people, partners, and the planet.
• Innovate and reimagine: challenge conventional thinking, welcome new ideas, and turn innovation into meaningful results.
• All hands on deck: work with courage, accountability, and team spirit.

Physical requirements

This role involves frequent walking, sitting, speaking, listening, and reaching. The employee must be able to use hands to handle, operate, and feel objects, tools, and controls. Occasional driving to off-site meetings may be required. The position also requires adequate visual ability for driving, camera use, and other equipment, including close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to hear and speak clearly to communicate with clients, coworkers, employees, and vendors.

Who should apply

This opportunity is best suited to candidates with sanitation leadership experience in food manufacturing who can manage a third-shift team, maintain compliance, and support a high-standard, safety-driven production environment.