Company & Culture:
At GT’s Living Foods, LLC, we’ve stayed true to the authentic brewing process for over 25 years. Our #1 selling Kombucha is raw, organic, naturally effervescent, and handcrafted in small batches – always cultured, never compromised. We’re proud to remain a family owned & operated company. As our GT’s family continues to grow, we are deeply humbled and sincerely grateful for every moment of this journey with you.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biology, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
- 8+ years of progressive sanitation leadership experience within food, beverage, dietary supplement, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
- 3+ years of leadership experience managing managers or multi-site sanitation programs.
- Professional certifications such as PCQI, SQF Practitioner, HACCP Certification, or related food safety credentials preferred.
- Experience in organic, natural, refrigerated, fermented, beverage, or high-risk food manufacturing environments preferred.
- Experience supporting manufacturing, food and beverage production, distribution, or similar operational environments strongly preferred.
- Experience conducting workplace investigations and managing corrective action processes preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and manufacturing, quality, or sanitation management systems, with the ability to leverage technology to drive operational excellence.
Job Description:
The Associate Director of Sanitation is responsible for developing, leading, and continuously improving all sanitation programs across organic food and beverage manufacturing operations. This role ensures compliance with food safety regulations, organic certification requirements, environmental standards, and company quality expectations. The Associate Director partners closely with Operations, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to drive sanitation excellence, minimize production downtime, mitigate food safety risks, and support a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute the company's sanitation strategy to support food safety, quality, productivity, and regulatory compliance objectives.
- Lead and mentor sanitation managers, supervisors, and sanitation team members across manufacturing facilities.
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting mechanisms to measure sanitation effectiveness and operational performance
- Drive a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement within the sanitation organization.
- Develop annual budgets, staffing plans, and capital improvement recommendations for sanitation operations.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA (where applicable), GMP, FSMA, SQF/BRC standards, organic certification requirements, and all company food safety programs.
- Own and maintain Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Master Sanitation Schedules, Environmental Monitoring Programs, and sanitation validation processes.
- Support internal audits, third-party audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
- Lead corrective and preventive actions resulting from sanitation-related observations, audit findings, environmental monitoring results, or food safety investigations.
- Partner with Quality and Food Safety teams to identify, assess, and mitigate contamination risks.
- Optimize sanitation processes to ensure efficient equipment cleaning and timely production startup.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing and Maintenance teams to improve equipment cleanability and sanitation effectiveness
- Analyze sanitation performance metrics and implement process improvements to reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency.
- Drive root-cause analysis and problem-solving efforts related to sanitation failures, environmental positives, or recurring issues.
- Evaluate and implement new sanitation technologies, cleaning methodologies, chemicals, and equipment.
- Ensure compliance with all employee safety policies and procedures, including chemical handling, lockout/tagout, confined space entry, and personal protective equipment requirements.
- Conduct training programs that promote sanitation best practices, food safety awareness, and regulatory compliance.
- Develop succession plans and career development opportunities for sanitation team members.
- Promote employee engagement and recognition initiatives to support retention and performance.
- Manage relationships with sanitation chemical suppliers, pest control providers, sanitation contractors, and related service partners.
- Evaluate sanitation products and services to ensure effectiveness, quality, and cost efficiency.
- Participate in vendor qualification and performance review processes.
- Extensive knowledge of food and beverage manufacturing sanitation programs, including SSOPs, Master Sanitation Schedules, environmental monitoring, allergen control, and hygienic design principles.
- Strong understanding of FDA, FSMA, cGMP, HACCP, SQF/BRC, GFSI, and organic certification requirements applicable to food manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing sanitation teams while fostering a culture of food safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Expertise in sanitation validation, verification, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and risk mitigation related to food safety and operational performance.
- Strong knowledge of sanitation chemistry, microbiology, CIP/COP systems, dry sanitation methods, and sanitation equipment and technologies.
- Ability to analyze operational and food safety data, establish KPIs, and implement process improvements that enhance sanitation effectiveness and manufacturing efficiency.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain functions.
- Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Ability to analyze operational and food safety data, establish KPIs, and implement process improvements that enhance sanitation effectiveness and manufacturing efficiency.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain functions.
- Ability to lead internal, customer, regulatory, and third-party audits, ensuring compliance and successful resolution of findings.
GT’s Employee Experience (Benefits/Perks):
- Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, LTD Life & Disability
- 401K with Matching
- Employee Assistance Program
- Discounts on the amazing GT’s product line
- Corporate Discounts with our partners thru LifeMart (concert & sporting event tickets, cell phone service, gifts, restaurants, hotels, gyms, childcare, and more!)
Job Details:
- Work Hours: Business Hours however must be flexible with work schedule.
- Work Attire: Use good judgment, keeping in mind the nature of the work, each employee’s own safety and the safety of others, and the need to interact with the public.
- Pay Range: $125,000.00 - $140,000.00
GT's Living Foods, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and maintaining an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.
