A sanitation manager leads a team of workers to keep an area clean and litter-free. They may work for municipalities, businesses or as independent contractors. The job requires knowledge of applicable standards, coordination with different parties, and a broad skill set. In the restaurant industry, the manager ensures food safety and compliance with regulations. In civil society, they manage garbage collection and disposal services. Previous experience in the field is usually required for this role.
In the broadest sense, a sanitation manager leads a team of sanitation workers and, in doing so, helps to keep a given area clean and litter-free. Many of the larger sanitation teams are operated by municipalities and local governments and include most garbage collection and disposal services. However, not all sanitation workers deal directly with garbage; many companies employ this type of specialist to keep their premises in polished and presentable order. This is particularly true in the restaurant and hospitality businesses. The manager is likely to be an active member of a team, meaning the job is likely to include some cleanup work and labor. Furthermore, on the managerial side, this person will also be responsible for performing tasks such as assigning tasks, delegating responsibilities and creating timelines. Depending on the structure, the manager may also need to coordinate and report to other members of the leadership team and may be responsible for things like contracts and pay negotiations.
Understanding Sanitation Generally
Generally speaking, “sanitation” in the civil context involves keeping spaces and public spaces free of debris and in line with social and governmental expectations of cleanliness. To help keep public places like restaurants, offices and hospitals clean and safe to inhabit on an ongoing basis, many businesses employ the services of a sanitation crew. This team can consist of one or more members, depending on the size of the building and the amount of ongoing work that needs to be done. The team is usually led by a sanitation manager.
Scope and basic principles of work
The details of the work often depend on where it is taking place. A person managing a garbage removal crew in a large urban area often has a very different list of daily tasks than one who maintains cleanliness and order in a first-rate hotel; likewise, a restaurant chain manager will likely have a completely different set of responsibilities. In almost all cases, though, the job requires a knowledge of applicable standards, an understanding of how and when to do the job, and an ability to coordinate with many different parties.
As there are so many possible aspects to the job, including construction, custodial and general work, sanitation management professionals often need to have a broad skill set. These skills must not only meet the physical job requirements of the job, but also include some people skills, as this person will likely be directing and checking other people’s work. A good sanitation manager tends to be firm enough to ensure workers complete all jobs to established, easy-to-deal standards so that crew members easily approach any issues that may arise.
In Restaurants and Industry
This type of manager usually participates in tasks involving cleaning and sanitation of certain establishments, i.e. food service centers such as restaurants and hotels. It could be this person’s job to scrub walls and floors, perform routine maintenance work, shovel sidewalks and walkways to ensure the safety of customers and workers, or keep restrooms clean and well-stocked. In large buildings, the manager may simply supervise and check the work of several sanitation and maintenance workers.
At the restaurant, the manager may also inspect food items and equipment to ensure ingredients are up to date and safe for consumption. He or she can keep detailed records with the dates food items were purchased and when they will have passed their expiration dates. This ensures that spoiled or rotten food is thrown away before being used in cooking. The manager may also have the responsibility of routinely inspecting the complete kitchen and dining area to ensure that everything is in compliance with government safety regulations. This prevents the restaurant from getting a bad report if a health inspector makes a surprise visit.
in civil society
Municipal sanitation teams are usually responsible for collecting garbage and sometimes recyclables and debris from yards of homes and businesses, transporting it to a landfill or other processing center. Managers usually schedule truck routes and make arrangements for disposal; they also usually coordinate employees to ensure all shifts are adequately covered.
Starting
It is often rare for a person to immediately start working as a manager without at least some previous experience in the field. People interested in sanitation management usually start work as a custodian or lower level sanitation worker and are promoted to manager. Others had managerial training or special woodworking skills acquired in other jobs.
Independent work opportunities
In some cases, the sanitation manager may also work as an independent contractor or self-employed. Carpenter service companies are available in some larger cities and usually involve a sanitation or maintenance worker who goes from company to company, offering services to several companies. Many self-employed sanitation workers started out as managers or supervisors before jumping into business ownership.
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