Bakery Team Leader

Barker Ross; Leicester Forest East; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in Leicester Forest East is looking for a Bakery Team Leader to oversee bakery operations. This role requires someone with proven experience in food manufacturing, strong leadership skills, and the ability to maintain quality standards. You will lead a motivated team, ensuring safety and efficiency while driving continuous improvement. Competitive hourly rate of £13.50, private healthcare and pension included.

Benefits

Private Healthcare

Company Pension Scheme

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in bakery or food manufacturing.
• Strong leadership with ability to inspire a team.
• Knowledge of food safety and health standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee bakery operations and meet production targets.
• Lead and motivate a team of bakery operatives.
• Monitor production metrics and resolve issues.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Food Safety Knowledge

Attention to Detail

Tools

Forklift

Job description

Bakery Team Leader

Location: Leicester
Salary: £13.50 per hour (approx. £28,000 per annum) + private healthcare + pension
Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 5am-2/3pm
Contract: Permanent | Full-time
Reports to: Production Manager

About the Business

This leading food manufacturer specialises in producing high-quality, authentic Indian products for the UK retail market. Combining traditional cooking methods with modern production techniques, the company is growing rapidly and investing heavily in innovation, people, and process improvement. They're known for a supportive, team-oriented culture where great ideas are valued, and hard work is recognised. This is a business where reliability, leadership, and pride in craftsmanship matter.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a hands‑on Bakery Team Leader to take charge of day‑to‑day bakery operations – someone who leads by example, drives quality and performance, and inspires their team to deliver exceptional results. This role suits a self‑starter with a calm head under pressure, excellent communication skills, and a proven ability to motivate people in a fast-moving food production environment. You'll be a key link between production staff and management, ensuring everything runs smoothly and safely from start to finish.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Quality

• Oversee all bakery line operations to meet production targets safely and efficiently.
• Maintain quality standards across all baked goods, ensuring consistency in appearance, texture, and weight.
• Conduct regular product and equipment checks to prevent downtime and uphold quality.
• Ensure machinery such as ovens, mixers, and depositors are used, cleaned, and maintained correctly.

Team Leadership

• Lead, train, and motivate a team of bakery operatives to achieve daily objectives.
• Organise team schedules, breaks, and shift cover to maximise productivity.
• Foster an inclusive, respectful, and high-performance team culture.
• Support team members' development through coaching and on‑the‑job training.

Reporting & Improvement

• Monitor and record key production metrics through short interval control (SIC) reporting.
• Identify and resolve issues promptly – whether process, quality, or mechanical.
• Take an active role in continuous improvement projects, sharing ideas that enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all staff adhere to strict hygiene, food safety, and health and safety standards.
• Complete pre‑start checks and maintain accurate records.
• Lead by example in promoting a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience in bakery, food manufacturing, or a similar production environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to inspire and guide others.
• Solid understanding of food safety, quality assurance, and H&S principles.
• Effective problem solver who stays composed under pressure.
• Confident decision‑maker with a focus on results and team performance.

Desirable

• Forklift licence (Counterbalance)
• First aid training.
• Familiarity with SIC or other production control systems.

Personal Qualities

• Reliable, trustworthy, and consistent – the team can depend on you.
• Naturally proactive with a "get it done" mindset.
• Takes ownership and pride in the product and process.
• Strong sense of accountability and attention to detail.
• Keen to contribute to a growing business and be part of its success story.

What's in It for You

• Competitive hourly rate of £13.50 (approx. £28k).
• Private healthcare and company pension scheme.
• Sunday to Thursday shifts – early finish on Fridays.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Supportive, passionate leadership team.
• A chance to play a key role in a growing, high‑quality food brand.

Barker Ross Group values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business