Trainee Cell Leader/First Line Manager (High Risk)

QUINTESSENTIAL BRANDS UK GROUP LTD; Redditch; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Earth Foods in Redditch is seeking a hands-on Trainee First Line Manager (Trainee Cell Leader) to oversee production and packing lines and to support team members in delivering outstanding standards in food safety, product quality and operational performance. This role is based in the High‑Risk production area of a fast-paced chilled facility.

You will coach staff, manage changeovers, ensure GMP and CCP checks, and maintain accurate paperwork to support smooth product launches and daily

Qualifications

• Leadership potential and hands-on capability in a manufacturing setting.
• Passion for quality and safety in food production.
• Ability to coach and mentor team members and manage performance.

Responsibilities

• Ensure GMP are always adhered to within your areas.
• Coach and mentor team members; identify training needs.
• Actively manage staff performance (output, timekeeping, Learning and Development activity, compliance training).
• Complete manual changeover of equipment during product changes ensuring changeover times are met or reduced, this can be on average 14 changeovers per day.
• Ensure forward planning of packaging, film, labels and protein prior to changeovers.
• Ensure communication between High‑Risk Prep and mixer room is maintained prior to changeovers to ensure adequate stock levels.
• Ensure tooling for changeover is planned in advance and accessible.
• Ensure any breakdowns are communicated to engineers in a timely manner, advance plan to keep the line running during label changes.
• Maximise operational efficiency (Availability, Performance and Quality) by keeping the line running by exceeding planning line rates.
• Ensure production is compliant to all Food Safety, Quality, and legality requirements, all paperwork to be completed to the required standard.
• Ensure daily plan is completed in full
• Communicate issues regarding the daily plan to your direct manager in a timely manner.Assist with pre productions within the area, obtain accurate information to ensure a smooth and effective product launch. Align with your direct manager in the decision making processes and issue resolution where necessary.
• Effective early communication of issues to the team and appropriate stakeholders
• Ensure all equipment is used correctly and returned in good condition.

Skills

Team leadership

Quality focus

Coaching

Job description

• Location Ocean House 9B Oxleasow Road East Moons Moat,Redditch, B98 0RE,United Kingdom
• Employee Type Full Time

Are you a motivated team player with leadership potential and a passion for quality and safety?

We are looking for hands‑on Trainee First Line Managers (Trainee Cell Leaders) to oversee production and packing lines, support Team Members, and help deliver outstanding standards in food safety, product quality, and operational performance. Here at Blue Earth Foods, we care about your qualities, not your qualifications.

If you're ready to take the step in your leadership career and make a real impact within a fast‑paced expanding manufacturing environment, we'd love to hear from you.

A hands‑on team leader role based solely within the High‑Risk production area of a fast‑paced chilled food manufacturing facility. This role has a responsibility for food safety, product quality, and legality.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Ensure Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are always adhered to within your areas.
• Coach and mentor team members. Identify training needs.
• Actively manage staff performance (output, timekeeping, Learning and Development activity, compliance training).
• Complete manual changeover of equipment during product changes ensuring changeover times are met or reduced, this can be on average 14 changeovers per day.
• Ensure forward planning of packaging, film, labels and protein prior to changeovers.
• Ensure communication between High‑Risk Prep and mixer room is maintained prior to changeovers to ensure adequate stock levels.
• Ensure tooling for changeover is planned in advance and accessible.
• Ensure any breakdowns are communicated to engineers in a timely manner, advance plan to keep the line running during label changes.
• Maximise operational efficiency (Availability, Performance and Quality) by keeping the line running by exceeding planning line rates.
• Ensure production is compliant to all Food Safety, Quality, and legality requirements, all paperwork to be completed to the required standard.
• Ensure daily plan is completed in full
• Communicate issues regarding the daily plan to your direct manager in a timely manner.Assist with pre productions within the area, obtain accurate information to ensure a smooth and effective product launch. Align with your direct manager in the decision making processes and issue resolution where necessary.
• Effective early communication of issues to the team and appropriate stakeholders
• Ensure all equipment is used correctly and returned in good condition.

Key accountabilites and measurables

• Contribute towards Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) score >85%
• Contribute toward Overall Completion Effectiveness (plan attainment) (OCE) of >95%
• Achieve accurate completion of paperwork andrecords including Critical Control Point (CCP) checks and traceability paperwork
• Ensure Critical Control Point (CCP) checks show product is within spec, raise any issues to QA /Zone Leader immediately.
• Contribute towards minimising waste and giveaway maximums by conducting your work in an effective manner.
• Raise any Health & Safety concerns with your direct manager or a member of the Health and Safety Committee.
• Uphold the company standards of food safety, product quality, brand integrity and Health and Safety.

Core values and essential criteria

It is an essential requirement that the role incumbent displays behaviours that reflect our ‘Core Values’ of Teamwork , Quality , Honesty and Passion

• Behaving Safely – report “Don’t walk by’s” and near misses
• Making food safety and product quality a priority
• Show integrity in following our rules and procedures
• Teamwork – working as part of a team to achieve team goals
• Honesty – ensuring all news travels fast – good or bad