Cookhouse Lead

ABF Grocery; Leigh; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

AB World Foods is seeking a Cookhouse Lead to drive the day-to-day operations of the Cookhouse, ensuring safe, efficient production that meets quality standards. You will lead a front-line team, coach staff, and work closely with the Cookhouse Team Leader to optimise resource use and achieve KPIs.

The role focuses on developing team capability, reducing waste, and maintaining GMP and food safety compliance in a world-class manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Must be able to lead daily Cookhouse operations safely and efficiently.
• Strong understanding of GMP requirements and adherence across the team.
• Provide visible frontline leadership with clear expectations and feedback.
• Support process improvements to enhance efficiency and outcomes.
• Coach and develop team members to raise capability and standards.
• Drive quality and food safety through root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily Cookhouse operations to deliver production plans safely and efficiently.
• Ensure compliance with GMP and food safety standards across the team.
• Provide visible leadership, set expectations, and hold teams accountable for performance.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities in processes and outcomes.
• Coach, develop and support team members to build capability and improve standards.
• Address issues, reduce waste, and drive reductions in IDNs and repeat faults.
• Communicate effectively with key stakeholders and maintain collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

GMP knowledge

Frontline leadership

Continuous improvement

Coaching & development

Quality & safety

Communication

Job description

What are we about?

Reporting to the Cookhouse team leader, the Cookhouse lead is the front-line leader within the cookhouse. This is a leadership role responsible for the people, performance and daily operations within the cookhouse.

AB World Foods is a branded food business famous for flavour and as great as our brands are, our people are what makes us special. We are committed to making ABWF a great place to work, grow & develop.

This role is Sunday to Thursday, 22:00 to 06:00.

What's the role about?

This role is responsible for leading the day-to-day operation of the Cookhouse, ensuring production is delivered safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards. The role focuses on driving performance, reducing waste, maintaining compliance, and supporting continuous improvement, while providing strong frontline leadership and developing team capability. Working closely with the Cookhouse Team Leader, the position ensures effective use of resources, achievement of KPIs, adherence to food safety and GMP standards, and the creation of a high performing, engaged cookhouse team. This includes coaching and developing team members to help create a world-class manufacturing environment within the Cookhouse

How will you stand out?

• Lead and coordinate daily Cookhouse operations to deliver production plans safely, efficiently and consistently.
• Has an in depth understanding of GMP requirements and the ability to ensure these are adhered to across the team, giving constructive feedback when necessary.
• Provide visible frontline leadership, setting clear expectations and holding teams accountable for performance and standards. Be able to give constructive feedback when it is required.
• Support continuous improvement activities, identifying opportunities to improve processes, efficiency and operational outcomes.
• Coach, develop and support team members to build capability and improve standards.
• Drive improvements in quality and food safety by reducing IDNs, repeat issues and avoidable failures through effective problem-solving to find the root cause and putting in place corrective actions.
• Good communication skills and be able to communicate to key stakeholders.