Production Team Leader - Cooking Section

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

Job summary

A leading UK food manufacturer is looking for a Production Team Leader for the Cooking Section. You will supervise daily operations, ensuring product quality and safety while leading a motivated team. The ideal candidate has strong leadership skills, experience in food manufacturing, and a proactive approach. This full-time, permanent role offers £13.50 per hour, private healthcare, and opportunities for growth in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Private healthcare

Company pension scheme

Long weekends off

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience in a food production leadership role.
• Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining quality standards.
• Strong problem-solving mindset and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Supervise operations in the cooking section to meet production schedules.
• Lead, motivate, and support team to achieve performance targets.
• Enforce food safety and hygiene standards.

Skills

FLT Counterbalance license

Experience within food manufacturing

Strong leadership and communication skills

Understanding of food safety and H&S compliance

Confident decision-maker

Job description

Production Team Leader – Cooking Section

Location: Leicester

Salary: £13.50 per hour (approx. £28,000 per annum) + private healthcare + pension

Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 6am-2/3pm

Contract: Permanent | Full-time

Reports to: Production Manager

About the Business

A growing UK food manufacturer recognised for producing high‑quality, authentic Indian ready meals and sauces for major supermarkets. The company combines traditional cooking methods with modern manufacturing techniques to deliver restaurant‑standard products at scale.

With strong investment in people, facilities, and technology, this is a workplace that rewards reliability, initiative, and leadership. The environment is fast‑paced, collaborative, and quality‑focused – ideal for someone who takes ownership and leads by example.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a Production Team Leader to take responsibility for the Cooking Section, ensuring all products are cooked safely, consistently, and to the highest quality standards.

This is a role for a self‑starter who thrives under pressure, communicates clearly, and knows how to motivate a team. You'll play a crucial role in achieving production targets, maintaining compliance, and driving a positive, high‑performance culture on the shop floor.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Quality

• Supervise all day‑to‑day operations in the cooking section to meet production schedules.
• Maintain consistency in product quality, flavour, and texture.
• Conduct in‑process checks on weights, temperatures, and batch quality.
• Ensure recipes, specifications, and cooking procedures are followed precisely.
• Oversee cleaning and maintenance of cooking equipment (e.g., kettles, mixers, and depositors).

Team Leadership

• Lead, motivate, and support your team to achieve daily performance targets.
• Allocate tasks and ensure staff are trained and competent in their roles.
• Maintain clear communication between departments including quality, planning, and engineering.
• Promote a positive, accountable, and safety‑driven work culture.

Reporting & Problem Solving

• Use short interval control (SIC) reporting to track progress and identify deviations.
• Resolve equipment or process issues swiftly to minimise downtime.
• Contribute ideas for continuous improvement and process optimisation.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Enforce food safety, hygiene, and health and safety standards at all times.
• Conduct pre‑start checks and complete necessary documentation.
• Take ownership of safety on the line, including near‑miss reporting and prevention.

Skills & Experience Required

• FLT Counterbalance license
• Experience within food manufacturing, cooking, or fast‑paced production.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with a practical, hands‑on approach.
• Understanding of food safety and H&S compliance.
• Confident decision‑maker with a calm, problem‑solving mindset.
• Able to perform under pressure and maintain attention to detail.

Desirable

• Experience with large‑scale cooking equipment or industrial kettles.
• First Aid
• Familiarity with SIC or other production control systems.

Personal Qualities

• Reliable, trustworthy, and consistent.
• Positive attitude with a "lead by example" mindset.
• Takes full ownership and accountability for performance.
• Sharp awareness of team dynamics and workflow.
• Committed to improvement, teamwork, and delivering results.

What's in It for You

• £13.50 per hour (approx. £28k annual equivalent).
• Private healthcare and company pension scheme.
• Wednesday to Friday working pattern – long weekends off.
• Supportive and passionate management team.
• Excellent training and opportunities to grow within a fast‑expanding food business.

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.