Hygiene Team Leader

Deeside Cereals; Connah's Quay; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company bonus scheme

Career development plan

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Deeside Cereals is seeking a Hygiene Team Leader to support the Hygiene Manager in delivering an effective hygiene and pest control service across the site. You will coordinate daily hygiene activities, support operators, and ensure food safety and audit readiness.

You will lead by example, drive improvements in hygiene processes and team performance, and manage a small team of hygiene operators, ensuring safe working practices and timely completion of tasks.

Qualifications

• Experience in a food processing environment is essential.
• Practical knowledge of basic Health & Safety and Food Hygiene.
• Understanding of high-level access equipment (MEWPs).
• Basic pest control awareness.
• Good communication and basic computer skills.
• Ability to report non-conformances effectively.
• Desirable: Supervisory experience and FLT licence.
• Desirable: Experience with working at height, confined spaces or access equipment.
• Desirable: Experience supporting training of others.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and continually improve site hygiene standards.
• Assist the Hygiene Manager in coordinating hygiene team activities and daily task allocations.
• Support management of pest control, waste processes and hygiene related contractors.
• Assist with coordination of high level cleaning activities.
• Support completion of safety checks and ensure hygiene machinery and equipment are maintained in safe working condition.

Skills

Strong communication

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Numerical skills

Tools

MEWPs

Basic computer skills

Job description

Job Title Hygiene Team Leader

Reports To Hygiene Manager

Department / Function Hygiene

Job Purpose / Summary

• The Hygiene Team Leader supports the Hygiene Manager in delivering an effective hygiene & pest control service across the site.
• The role coordinates daily hygiene activities, supports hygiene operators, and ensures that site hygiene standards, food safety, environmental expectations and audit ready conditions are consistently maintained.
• The role sets day to day standards, leads by example, and helps drive improvements in hygiene processes and team performance.

Key Accountabilities

Management & Control

• Maintain and continually improve site hygiene standards.
• Assist the Hygiene Manager in coordinating hygiene team activities and daily task allocations.
• Support management of pest control, waste processes and hygiene related contractors.
• Assist with coordination of high level cleaning activities.
• Support completion of safety checks and ensure hygiene machinery and equipment are maintained in safe working condition.
• Maintain stock control for equipment and chemicals and place orders within agreed limits.
• Manage and carry out confined space activities.

Leadership

• Lead by example and model the expected standards and behaviours.
• Demonstrate effective communication within the hygiene team and wider departments.
• Support the motivation, engagement and wellbeing of hygiene operators.
• Encourage ideas and contribution from the team to drive improvements.
• Support pest control and hygiene best practices training for all on site operators.

Quality

• Maintain attention to detail in all hygiene tasks and inspections.
• Support the site in maintaining an “audit ready” condition.
• Help uphold environmental and hygiene standards across the facility.

Teamwork

• Support an environment of teamwork, achievement and shared accountability.
• Help ensure cleaning is completed effectively across factory, warehouse, offices, external areas and amenities.
• Assist in managing pest control schedules and follow up actions.
• Assist in managing silo, overhead and specialist cleaning activities.
• Participate in induction and training of new hygiene staff (temporary and permanent).
• Support creation and updating of hygiene schedules, procedures and SOPs.
• Coach production operators on best cleaning practises
• Carry out all tasks reasonably required by the Hygiene Manager.

Problem Solving & Innovation

• Identify and elevate day to day hygiene issues promptly.
• Contribute ideas to improve hygiene processes, team efficiency and audit compliance.
• Take a proactive approach to waste, recycling, pest control and water monitoring challenges.
• Assist in developing and improving hygiene procedures and work instructions.
• Apply practical judgement to resolve minor issues, escalating more complex problems to the Hygiene Manager.

Leadership & People Responsibilities

• Provide day to day guidance and informal leadership to 4 Hygiene Operators.
• Support training, coaching and development of team members.
• Conduct or support basic risk assessments for hygiene tasks and ensure appropriate training is delivered.
• Uphold safe systems of work and model good health & safety behaviours.
• Support the Hygiene Manager with team briefings, task prioritisation and communication.

Impact of Role

• Helps ensure hygiene standards across the full site meet food safety, quality and legal expectations.
• Directly contributes to maintaining “audit ready” status.
• Supports safe working environments through equipment checks, chemical safety and risk assessment activity.
• Influences team engagement, consistency and performance through day to day leadership.

Dimensions of the Role

• Direct Reports: 4 Hygiene Team members
• Scope: All factory, warehouse, offices, amenities, external areas
• Key Activities: Cleaning, pest control support, waste/recycling monitoring, equipment checks, stock control

Key Relationships & Interpersonal Skills

Internal Stakeholders:

• Hygiene Manager
• Hygiene Operators
• Technical team
• Production & Engineering teams
• New starters requiring training

External Stakeholders:

• Pest control contractors
• High level cleaning specialists
• Waste/recycling providers
• Chemical and hygiene equipment suppliers

Behavioural Skills:

• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Good numerical skills
• Ability to foster teamwork and encourage continuous improvement
• Attention to detail and commitment to hygiene excellence

Knowledge & Experience Requirements

Essential

• Experience working in a food processing environment (preferably cereals).
• Practical knowledge of basic H&S and Food Hygiene.
• Understanding of high-level access equipment (MEWPs).
• Basic pest control awareness.
• Good communication and basic computer skills.
• Ability to report non-conformances effectively.

Desirable

• Supervisory experience.
• FLT licence.
• Experience with working at height, confined spaces or access equipment.
• Experience supporting training of others.
• Ability to place orders within limits

Other Information

• The job holder is required to do all tasks considered relevant by their line manager
• Responsible for Food Safety, Quality and Legality

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

The Company strives to be an equal opportunities employer. This means that decisions concerning recruitment, promotion, dismissal or any other aspect of employment will be based on the needs of the business and not any assumptions based on sex, race, age, disability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, married or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. This is an important commitment which all employees are expected to share.

Knowledge & Experience Requirements

Essential

• Experience working in a food processing environment (preferably cereals).
• Practical knowledge of basic H&S and Food Hygiene.
• Understanding of high-level access equipment (MEWPs).
• Basic pest control awareness.
• Good communication and basic computer skills.
• Ability to report non-conformances effectively.

Desirable

• Supervisory experience.
• FLT licence.
• Experience with working at height, confined spaces or access equipment.
• Experience supporting training of others.
• Ability to place orders within limits

Benefits of Working at Weetabix – Deeside

• A competitive salary which is reviewed annually
• Access to the Company Bonus Scheme
• A personalised Career Development Plan
• Access to the company’s e-learning suite
• Access to the company pension scheme
• Life Assurance cover
• Heavily-subsidised vending service in the Canteen
• Access to the Company Staff Shop at discounted prices
• A health surveillance medical every year (if required)
• Regular business updates
• Free parking on site