Hygiene Team Manager

Warburtons; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

Additional holiday

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Wellbeing support

Development opportunities

Staff discounts

Free products & kitchens

Job summary

Warburtons is seeking an experienced Hygiene Team Manager for our Wakefield bakery. You will lead the hygiene function, champion food safety and drive continuous improvement across the site.

The role requires strong leadership, budget and people-management skills, with experience in GMP/HACCP and audits. Join Britain's biggest bakery brand and help sustain high standards across manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading hygiene operations in food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, BRC, COSHH and health and safety requirements.
• Auditor training and experience supporting internal and external audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the hygiene function to world-class standards.
• Coordinate hygiene activities to ensure compliance with food safety and environmental standards.
• Analyse data and trends to drive continuous improvement and cost control.
• Manage budgets, labour planning and external contractors while maintaining audit readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Level 3 HACCP/Food Safety qualification

Tools

SAP

CIP systems

Job description

As ‘the UK’s No. 1 Bakery Brand’ we have been baking bread since 1876. Today, we are proudly a fifth-generation family, with the introduction of the sixth generation, supplying over 18,000 retail customers from 11 bakeries and 16 depots, producing a range of over 70 products including gluten and wheat free. Family and values are what makes us different, and we are a proud bunch, join us and you too could be proud to be Warburtons.

Function: Manufacturing

Contract: Permanent, Full Time (Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm)

Location: 41 Bakery, Wakefield

Are You Ready to Help Shape the Future of Britain's Favourite Bakery?

At Warburtons, we've been proudly baking and delivering quality products to families across the UK for over 149 years. As a family-owned business with a rich heritage and ambitious future, we're passionate about producing food that people love while creating opportunities for our people to thrive.

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Hygiene Team Manager to join our newest bakery in Wakefield.

As a key member of the Management Team, you'll lead and inspire our hygiene function, championing world-class hygiene and food safety standards while driving continuous improvement, operational excellence, and people development across the site.

We're looking for someone who combines technical expertise with exceptional people leadership skills.

You’ll Need:

• Proven experience leading hygiene operations within a food manufacturing environment.
• Level 3 HACCP and Food Safety qualification (or equivalent).
• Knowledge of food microbiology and hygiene management systems.
• Auditor training and experience supporting internal and external audits.
• Strong understanding of food safety legislation, BRC standards, HACCP, COSHH and health and safety requirements.
• Experience managing budgets, labour planning and cost control.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies and operational excellence principles.
• Strong communication, coaching and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to analyse complex data and translate insights into action.

It Would Be Great If You Also Had:

• Working knowledge of SAP (ERP/PM modules).
• Experience with Clean-In-Place (CIP) systems.

The Recipe

This is more than a hygiene role. It's an opportunity to influence standards, develop talented people, and play a crucial role in delivering the quality our customers expect from Britain's biggest bakery brand.

Working closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality and Compliance teams, you'll ensure our site remains audit-ready, compliant, efficient and focused on continuous improvement.

You’ll bring energy, credibility and leadership to your team, creating a culture where hygiene excellence and food safety are embedded into everything we do.

What You’ll Be Baking Up

Leadership & People Development

• Recruit, coach and develop a high-performing hygiene team, creating a culture of accountability, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Lead performance reviews, talent development and succession planning activities.
• Inspire teams through clear communication, strong leadership and visible presence across the bakery.

Hygiene & Food Safety Excellence

• Manage and coordinate hygiene activities to ensure compliance with all food safety, hygiene and microbiological standards.
• Monitor and verify hygiene standards through visual inspections, environmental monitoring and microbiological sampling.
• Work closely with the Centre Food Safety Team to implement and maintain robust hygiene and food safety systems.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, BRC, COSHH and company operating procedures.

Operational Improvement

• Challenge existing practices and identify opportunities to improve hygiene effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.
• Develop and manage continuous improvement initiatives that support bakery performance and food safety objectives.
• Support site sustainability goals, including reducing unnecessary water usage and monitoring consumption for reporting purposes.
• Analyse performance data and trends to drive informed decision-making and operational improvements.

Resource & Budget Management

• Plan hygiene schedules and labour resources to ensure all operational requirements are achieved.
• Manage hygiene materials, chemicals, PPE and equipment to ensure availability and cost-effectiveness.
• Control hygiene budgets and identify opportunities to deliver savings without compromising safety, quality or performance.
• Manage external contractors and ensure agreed standards are consistently achieved.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure all activities comply with company Health, Safety and Environmental standards.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are implemented.
• Maintain audit readiness and support internal and external audits.

Extra Dough

At Warburtons, we believe our people are our most important ingredient. That's why we offer a range of rewards and benefits to support you both professionally and personally:

• A slice of the annual profits through our discretionary profit share scheme.
• Family-friendly holiday options, including the opportunity to purchase up to an additional week's annual leave.
• Award-winning pension scheme with 7% company contribution.
• Life assurance.
• Access to hundreds of discounts and offers through our Extra Dough benefits platform.
• Ongoing investment in your personal and professional development.
• Free products and fully stocked kitchens for your daily brew.
• Access to physiotherapy services, occupational health support and a confidential 24/7 wellbeing helpline.

We respect and value difference. We look to create an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, or any other aspect which makes them unique, are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work, is the right thing to do.