Kitchen Assistant Supervisor in North Petherton

Company Description

South West Larder: Togetherness, Nurture, Pride, Planet

Full Time: 39 hours a week

Salary: £20.23 per hour

Location: Central Production Kitchen, North Petherton

Closing Date: 21/08/2026

Interviews: Week Commencing - 31/08/2026

Want to work for a company where Togetherness, Nurture, Pride and Planet are at the heart of everything they do? Then look no further, Somerset Larder produces fresh food and meals to go using locally sourced ingredients from all over the west country. Our philosophy is to nourish the community with amazing produce, to employ local people and to train apprentices for future careers in the catering and hospitality sector.

At Somerset Larder, our Values have been set by our staff. Our Values exist for the good of our working lives and company performance. Our Values are:

• Togetherness - “Be a tractor not a trailer.”
• Nurture - “You grow, I grow, we grow.”
• Pride - “We can and we will”
• Planet - “We’re part of a bigger picture”

Job Description

As a Kitchen Assistant Supervisor, you will oversee food prep and assembly operations while ensuring high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency. Acting as a link between management and staff, you will direct daily production workflows while fostering a fair, inclusive environment where tasks are shared equally and every team member receives opportunities to learn.

Fair Team Leadership & People Management (Togetherness & Nurture)

• Fair Task Distribution: Rotate tasks fairly, ensuring balance across the team whilst ensuring all staff can complete all tasks.
• Equal Opportunity: Champion an inclusive team culture where every Kitchen Assistant receives equal access to on-the-job training and cross-skilling across different prep sections.
• Supportive & Objective Management: Lead by example with consistency, fairness, and transparency (Togetherness). Resolve day-to-day shift issues objectively and supportively.
• Team Morale & Inclusion: Encourage open communication, foster strong teamwork across shifts, and ensure every team member feels valued, heard, and respected regardless of background or experience level.

Production & Operational Supervision

• Oversee daily prep, assembly, and packaging workflows for high-volume ready-to-eat products and salads.
• Ensure all products strictly follow approved spec sheets, portion controls, and wastage controls.
• Monitor efficiency to ensure production schedule is met on time.
• Assist in organising daily shift allocations, rotation of duties, and break management fairly across the team.

Quality, Food Safety & Hygiene Standards

• Working with kitchen assistants, supporting food safety, ensuring strict adherence to HACCP guidelines, CCP controls, and allergen segregation procedures.
• Monitor traceability documentation and blast chilling records.
• Implement clean as you go attitude ensuring workstations, and production areas meet high cleaning standards on every shift.
• Report operational hazards, equipment faults, or product non-conformances immediately to senior supervisors/management.

The role is based primarily within temperature-controlled cold rooms (chilled environments, <8>

Qualifications Skills/Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Essential
• Leadership & Fairness: Demonstrated ability to lead people fairly and impartially, fostering an inclusive team dynamic with equal support for all members.
• Experience: Proven track record in a high-volume food production, central assembly kitchen, or commercial catering environment.
• Qualifications: Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering/Manufacturing (or willingness to achieve Level 3 upon appointment).
• Communication: Clear, open, and empathetic communication skills to mentor and direct a diverse team during busy production.
• Attention to Detail: Precise approach to specs and allergen safety.
• Flexibility: Adaptable mindset regarding shift patterns, rota schedules, and support throughout the Central Production Kitchen.
• Desirable
• Experience in inclusive leadership, shift delegation, or mentoring staff.
• Level 3 Award in Food Safety / HACCP certification.
• Health & Safety qualification or First Aid at Work certificate.
• Experience operating in chilled high-care or high-risk manufacturing environments.

Interpersonal Skills

• Fairness & Impartiality: Treats every team member consistently and without bias, ensuring work assignments, break rotations, and development opportunities are distributed equitably.
• Empathetic & Active Listening: Demonstrates a genuine willingness to listen to staff concerns, feedback, or shift challenges, ensuring team members feel heard, valued, and respected.
• Clear & Approachable Communication: Adapts communication style to suit a diverse team, delivering daily briefs clearly, giving constructive feedback supportively, and maintaining an open-door presence.
• Conflict Resolution: Handles floor-level disagreements, friction, or misunderstandings calmly and objectively, de-escalating tensions before they impact shift morale.
• Team Motivation & Engagement: Drives a positive, collaborative environment (