Director, Sanitation

Provides guidance and strategic direction of sanitation operations across all facilities ensuring alignment across sanitation through cross-functional collaboration to develop and implement policies and standards the highest levels of product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Partners with key leaders across the organization to align sanitation and business goals, create continuous improvements, and optimize resource utilization. Fosters a culture of safety and accountability, sets clear expectations, empowers excellence in sanitation and food safety practices, provides expert chemistry consultation, and guides the implementation of data-informed programs and standards.

At Butterball, we exist to help people pass love on. As the most recognized name in turkey, the brand represents more than 60 years of cherished memories, providing quality, great tasting products that make meals something to celebrate every day.  We proudly believe that life at Butterball means having a team who supports you, having the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, and making an impact on the health of others daily.

Whether you choose to work at one of our five (5) manufacturing facilities in NC, AR, MO, farms in AR, NC, and KS, corporate office in NC, IL, or in the field, we believe we have an opportunity for everyone to succeed.   At Butterball, we believe in fostering a culture where every team member is valued, has the opportunity to grow professionally and contribute to our success. Join us in our Purpose and apply for an opportunity today!

Key Responsibilities

1. Oversees one or more function typically through the oversight of directors. Provides strategic direction to the function. Responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and support to ensure department achieves business goals. Responsible for HR activities such as hiring, terminations, performance management, goal setting, team member development, scheduling, etc. Oversees the development and implementation of systems, policies, and procedures working in tandem with Sanitation Operations to ensure alignment across functions. Contributes to or is accountable for budget management for the function.

2. Designs, implements, and verifies enterprise-wide sanitation strategies, best practices, corrective actions, and process improvements using site and product risk assessments to ensure alignment with business priorities and compliance with food safety standards.

3. Oversees the ongoing evaluation and optimization of Sanitation Preventive Controls within Food Safety Plans to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements, improve audit readiness, and exceed company standards.

4. Ensures continuous improvements and achievement of organizational goals by refining sanitation programs, systems, and processes through cross-functional collaboration.

5. Collaborates cross-functionally on the enterprise-wide sanitation chemical program, ensuring the effective selection, application, and management of cleaning and disinfecting chemicals across all facilities.

6. Verifies and ensures the proper documentation of sanitation processes, systems, and practices.

7. Guides the establishment and oversight of key sanitation metrics (i.e., visual inspection scores, microbiological sampling results, compliance with SSOPs and company programs, etc.) across all facilities. Identifies trends and emerging issues, implements strategic initiatives to address them, and ensures continuous operational improvement and alignment with organizational goals.

8. Oversees comprehensive assessments and audits of sanitation systems, processes, and cleaning practices to ensure compliance with corporate standards and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

9. Guides the integration of new equipment and facilities to ensure consistency with company standards, with a focus on sanitary design and maintaining/reestablishing sanitary conditions in the production environment.

10. Develops comprehensive sanitation training programs with established training intervals that ensure consistent knowledge and regulatory compliance. Delivers measurable reductions in sanitation related deviations through continuous evaluation and improvement of training effectiveness.

11. Partners cross-functionally to ensure compliance with and continuous improvement in sanitation inspection and verification programs, environmental monitoring programs, microbiological and food safety programs, etc.

Minimum Qualifications (Educations & Experience)

• College degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
• 12+ years of relevant experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role
• 5+ years of leadership experience or the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the role

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Butterball Core Competencies

Caring about people, valuing contributions, and empowering to succeed is the Butterball Way. We recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to Butterball and seek to create an environment where everyone can thrive. Everyone has a seat at the table and is expected to embody our core competencies:

• Safety First: We put safety first. The health, safety, and well-being of our people, products, and turkeys is everyone''s responsibility and everyone''s jobs.
• Integrity: We trust each other to do the right thing. We act with integrity and gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, respect, and authenticity.
• Stewardship: We take care of what matters. We are accountable to our commitments and take responsibility for the well-being of our teams, our quality, our customers, our business, our brand, and our communities. We are always answerable for our actions and those we lead.
• Enthusiastic Attitudes: We create a climate where everyone feels they belong and can be engaged, every day. Where our people are enthusiastic and motivated to do their best and work together to make great things happen.
• Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continuous improvement. We challenge ourselves and our company to constantly learn, develop, grow, improve, and innovate.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive experience in management sanitation operations across multiple facilities, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and compliance with safety and quality standards
• In-depth knowledge of FDA, USDA, HACCP, OSHA requirements and proven ability to apply food safety and sanitation standards in food processing environments
• Expert understanding of sanitation design, procedures, operational efficiencies, and safety in food processing, with particular emphasis on wet/dry cleaned environments
• Extensive knowledge of food safety protocols, employee safety practices, food manufacturing processes, and regulatory compliance
• Comprehensive knowledge of microbiological organisms and their impact in sanitation practices and process design, and facility design
• In-depth knowledge of sanitation chemistries and application methods
• Proficient in advanced statistical and analytical tools with the ability to interpret data and utilized data-informed strategies in processes and operational improvements
• Accomplished leadership skills with the ability to coach, support, and motivate large cross-functional teams of people leaders to achieve performance and operational success
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the proven ability to effectively influence and impact results at all levels
• Highly skilled at cultivating and maintaining strong relationship to support organizational growth and employee engagement
• Expertise in utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and advanced food safety systems to optimize sanitation processes, data management, and reporting
• Proven ability to create innovation through strategic thinking, overseeing cross-functional teams, and implementing initiatives that improve efficiency and align with organizational goals

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced degree in related field

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

• Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including remote work, a climate-controlled office environment(s), and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions, such as cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions. This position requires the individual to wear and work in personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing environment. For remote work, the employee must have a dedicated workspace to safely setup and use assigned IT equipment, preferably free from distractions. The employee is responsible for ensuring adequate internet service is available when working remotely (the recommended minimum speed is 20mb download and 5mb upload).
• The noise level of the office environment is usually moderate; the noise level in the manufacturing environment may exceed 85 DBA and require hearing protection.
• Travel may be required up to 70% of the time.

Disclaimer

We embrace equal opportunity employment. Butterball is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball's Drug/Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.