Hygiene Team Leader in Rochester

Location: Rochester, Kent

Salary: £32,000pa

Job Type: Permanent

Hours: Full-time, 6am-4pm, Monday to Friday

About the Role

We are recruiting for an experienced Hygiene Team Leader to join a busy food manufacturing environment in Rochester. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day delivery of hygiene services across the site, ensuring consistently high standards of visual and microbiological hygiene. You will lead and support the Hygiene Team on shift, ensuring cleaning procedures are followed correctly, records are completed accurately, and all food safety, quality and health & safety standards are maintained. This is a hands-on supervisory role, ideal for someone with previous hygiene experience within food manufacturing who is confident managing people and working in a fast-paced production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise the Hygiene Team and ensure cleaning standards are consistently maintained across the site.
• Ensure all team members wear the correct PPE and follow hygiene, food safety, quality and health & safety procedures.
• Ensure cleaning is completed correctly and to a 'right first time' standard.
• Carry out daily, weekly, monthly and ad hoc cleaning activities as required.
• Ensure hygiene operatives clean machinery and equipment in line with work instructions and cleaning cards.
• Manage team breaks to ensure adequate hygiene cover and a timely return to the shop floor.
• Carry out daily GMP audits and report any issues or concerns.
• Complete all relevant hygiene documentation and records accurately and on time.
• Carry out start-up and inspection checks of cleaning equipment and report any damage or defects.
• Complete chemical titration checks.
• Identify and escalate hygiene, food safety and health & safety concerns to the Hygiene Manager.
• Ensure appropriate PARs are completed when required.
• Support the training, development and performance of Hygiene Team members.
• Assist with problem solving, continuous improvement and identifying effective solutions.
• Manage stock issues and raise replenishment orders in the absence of the Hygiene Manager.
• Deputise for the Hygiene Manager when required.
• Work closely with other departments to support the smooth running of the site.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties required to support business needs.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous hygiene experience within a food manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience of supervising or managing a team.
• Good understanding of HACCP principles.
• Level 2 Food Safety qualification.
• Basic Health & Safety knowledge.
• Basic understanding of COSHH.
• Basic knowledge of BRC standards.
• Good communication and people-management skills.
• Good numeracy and literacy skills with the ability to accurately complete records.
• Basic IT skills.
• The ability to follow procedures and work instructions accurately.
• The ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced production environment.
• A proactive approach with the ability to use your own initiative.
• A flexible approach to working hours and supporting the wider business.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who takes pride in maintaining high standards and can lead by example. You will need to be organised, reliable and confident communicating with colleagues across different departments. If you have a strong background in food manufacturing hygiene and are ready to take the next step into a Hygiene Team Leader position, we'd be keen to hear from you. Apply today to be considered for this opportunity.