DIRECTOR, SANTIATION TECHNICAL SERVICES
Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.
The Director of Sanitation Technical Services is responsible for leading, transforming, and standardizing sanitation practices and performance across the Dessert Holdings enterprise. This role serves as the strategic and technical authority for sanitation systems and processes, hygienic design, environmental controls, food safety risk mitigation, cleaning validation, and sanitation execution excellence.
The Sanitation Director develops and deploys enterprise sanitation strategies that drive sustainable improvements in food safety, quality, operational reliability, OEE, cost, microbiologic stability, and regulatory compliance. This leader partners closely with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Plant Leadership teams to build a culture of ownership, accountability, and sanitation excellence.
Ideally located in St. Paul, MN, we are also open to candidates in the Aurora, CO or Humble, TX areas.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and implement enterprise-wide sanitation strategies, standards, KPIs, and governance programs aligned with food safety and business objectives.
- Provide technical leadership for environmental monitoring, hygienic equipment design, CIP/COP systems, microbial and allergen control programs, sanitation chemistry, SSOPs, and validation/verification processes.
- Lead sanitation-related investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive measures to eliminate systemic food safety risks.
- Partner with Engineering and Maintenance teams to incorporate hygienic design principles into capital projects, equipment modifications, and reliability programs.
- Drive operational excellence through sanitation performance management, scorecards, dashboards, and structured problem-solving methodologies such as Lean, DMAIC, PDCA, and A3.
- Influence and develop sanitation, operations, quality, maintenance, and engineering teams while building organizational capability through training and certification programs.
- Ensure compliance with FSMA, FDA, GFSI, SQF, GMP, customer, and third-party audit requirements, while maintaining audit readiness across all facilities.
- Identify and execute continuous improvement opportunities that reduce food safety risks, lower operating costs, improve environmental monitoring results, increase audit performance, and enhance labor, water, chemical, and equipment effectiveness metrics.
- Lead enterprise-wide sanitation transformation initiatives that strengthen food safety culture, improve operational performance, and support sustainable growth.
QUALIFICATION AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Operations, or related field.
- 10+ years of progressive sanitation, food safety, quality, or manufacturing leadership experience.
- 5+ years leading multi-site or enterprise-level sanitation programs.
- Strong knowledge of:
- Environmental Monitoring Programs
- Food Safety Systems
- Hygienic Design
- CIP/COP Technologies
- Validation and Verification Methodologies
- Root Cause Analysis
- Lean Manufacturing Principles
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide change initiatives.
- Strong financial acumen and ability to translate technical risks into business impact.
- Experience influencing senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Ability to travel 50 – 80% of the time, throughout the U.S. and Canada
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Regularly works in office and food manufacturing environments.
- Ability to walk production facilities and stand for extended periods during audits, inspections, and operational reviews.
- Ability to climb stairs and access elevated platforms as needed.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Must be able to wear required PPE and work safely in manufacturing environments that include wet conditions, temperature variations, noise, and exposure to sanitation chemicals.
About Dessert Holdings
Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.
EEO Statement
Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.
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