Production Team Leader

Chartwells Independent; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free breakfast on shift

Free lunch on shift

Free on-site parking

Public transport access

Career development

Job summary

Cuisine Centre, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, is hiring a Production Team Leader in Derby. You will lead the production line to pack, dispatch and trace SKUs, ensuring schedules, food safety and quality standards are met.

You will manage daily operations, collaborate across departments, and cover the Production Manager during breaks and holidays while driving improvement and maintaining safe, compliant processes.

Qualifications

• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Proficient IT skills and ability to use standard software.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Flexible, proactive and reliable.
• Positive, 'can-do' attitude and good teamwork.
• Previous experience leading or supervising a team.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage production lines and ensure packing plans are followed to meet daily targets.
• Verify ingredients are packed within build guide tolerances and ensure GMP compliance.
• Complete required documentation accurately and promptly.
• Ensure full product traceability through runtimes, date codes and FIFO.
• Maintain inventory and material usage records.
• Support waste reduction and correct disposal procedures.
• Maintain a safe working environment with PPE and Health & Safety adherence.
• Ensure hygiene standards in all work areas and record cleaning activities.
• Lead, support and motivate the line team.
• Collaborate across departments and assist other areas as needed.
• Contribute ideas for continuous process improvement and report concerns promptly.
• Provide cover for Production Manager during holidays and meetings.

Skills

Literacy & numeracy

IT skills

Attention to detail

Self-motivated

Organisational skills

Flexible attitude

Team player

Leadership experience

Food hygiene knowledge

Job description

Production Team Leader

Cuisine Centre

SmartParc SEGRO, Derby, UK

Hourly Pay Rate: £16.25

About the Role

Your role is responsible for supporting daily operations by leading the production team to ensure all stock keeping units (SKU) are prepared, packed, and dispatched accurately and on time, in line with the production plan. You need to lead your line team effectively and ensure operational targets are met. The role also requires strict adherence to schedules, food safety standards, and quality requirements, while maintaining full product traceability. Any deviations from the plan must be promptly escalated to the Production Manager.

Working Hours

40 hours per week

Monday – Friday: 07:00 – 15:30

Flexibility and occasional overtime required to meet operational demands.

Key Responsibilities

Manage production lines and ensure packing plans are always followed, leading by example to achieve daily packing targets.

Verify that the correct ingredients are packed within build guide tolerances, and maintain compliance with GMP, quality, and food safety standards.

Complete all required documentation accurately and promptly.

Ensure full product traceability through accurate recording of runtimes, date codes, and FIFO.

Maintain accurate inventory and material usage records.

Support waste reduction initiatives with all team members following correct waste handling and disposal procedures.

Maintain a safe working environment with all team members adhering to Health & Safety policies and always wearing appropriate PPE.

Ensure hygiene standards are universally met in all work areas, keeping records of all cleaning activities.

Lead, support, and motivate the line team.

Work collaboratively across departments, demonstrating flexibility to aid other operational areas.

Contribute your ideas to make continuous improvement of processes.

Communicate effectively with the Production Manager and cross-functional teams, promptly reporting any quality, stock, or production concerns.

Provide cover for the Production Manager during holidays and meetings as required.

Key Skills & Experience

Good literacy and numeracy skills.

Proficient IT skills.

Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.

Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

Flexible, proactive, and reliable.

Positive, "can-do" attitude and strong team player.

Previous experience leading or supervising a team.

Knowledge of food hygiene and quality standards.

About Cuisine Centre

As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, Cuisine Centre is the food production arm of the UK's largest contract catering business. We prepare millions of quality meals each year across our five meal ranges, and these are served nationwide in partnership with our clients in a variety of sectors. We are passionate about simplifying catering, whilst nourishing the nation with fresh, flavour-first food.

Our people are the secret ingredient to our success. Our dedicated team of Foodists take pride in every detail, as every meal matters. That's why we invest in you, providing opportunities to grow, build, and develop your career. We know that a happy, talented team delivers the best food.

Our Four Core Values

Be a Foodist! – We are driven by a passion for food and culinary excellence, putting care into every detail.

Do the Right Thing – We always act with integrity and honesty, because high standards create quality products.

Take Responsibility – We share responsibility for our actions on site, and the wider impact on our customers, communities, and environment.

Have Respect & Compassion – We recognise that every role helps make the dish. We put our people at the centre of everything we do.

If you're looking for a role in a growing food production business, where your work feels as good as it tastes, we'd love to hear from you.

Your Benefits

Free breakfast and lunch on shift.

Free on-site parking.

Convenient public transport links.

Perks at Work – exclusive benefits & wellbeing platform, including discounts on high-street brands and holidays.

Grow your career with development and progression opportunities.

"Pride in Every Plate" recognition scheme with prizes on offer.

Mental, physical, and financial wellbeing support.

Company pension scheme.

Free employee assistance programme.

Access to our employee networks across Compass Group UK&I. We want all our team members to feel empowered and valued to create an inclusive workplace culture.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Please note: This role is contracted to weeks per year

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2708/43172001/52820054/R/SU #Cuisine Centre

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!