Department Team Leader Cleaning & Sanitation

Silver Fern Farms Limited; Hokitika; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Career growth

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Team environment

Job summary

Silver Fern Farms Limited in Hokitika seeks an experienced Department Team Leader to coach and develop a production team while ensuring safety, quality and efficiency. You will drive daily operations, monitor KPIs, and lead continuous improvement initiatives.

You will report to the Processing Manager and work shifts that cover evenings, with a strong focus on health, food safety, and team engagement in a busy manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in manufacturing or processing environments.
• Strong communication, coaching and people leadership skills.
• Commitment to health, safety, food safety and quality.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Ability to build high-performing teams and foster a positive culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop team members to achieve departmental objectives.
• Drive compliance with food safety, hygiene, quality, and sanitation standards.
• Build and maintain a strong health and safety culture.
• Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback and development.
• Coordinate daily operational requirements and communicate clear expectations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives through the Streamline programme.
• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, MPI, and company requirements.
• Work collaboratively with production, engineering, quality assurance, and site leadership teams.
• Managing departmental performance, reporting, and operational KPIs.
• Supporting sustainability and waste reduction initiatives across the department.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

People management

Health & safety

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Auditing/Regulatory liaison

Tools

Reporting tools

Job description

As a Department Team Leader, you'll be responsible for leading and developing a team while ensuring production support activities are completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. You will provide leadership, coaching, and direction to team members while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. This role is directly reporting into the Processing Manager.

Shift pattern: Usually, 45 hours per week.

Evening shifts varying between 2:00pm and 11:00pm or 11:00pm and 5:00am, depending on the season.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, coaching, and developing team members to achieve departmental objectives.
• Driving compliance with food safety, hygiene, quality, and sanitation standards.
• Building and maintaining a strong health and safety culture.
• Monitoring team performance and providing regular feedback and development.
• Coordinating daily operational requirements and communicating clear expectations.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives through the Streamline programme.
• Ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, MPI, and company requirements.
• Working collaboratively with production, engineering, quality assurance, and site leadership teams.
• Managing departmental performance, reporting, and operational KPIs.
• Supporting sustainability and waste reduction initiatives across the department.

We're looking for an experienced people leader who can motivate teams, uphold high standards, and deliver results in a dynamic operational environment.

You’ll bring:

• Previous leadership or supervisory experience within manufacturing, processing, sanitation, hygiene, or a related operational environment.
• Strong communication, coaching, and people leadership skills.
• A commitment to health, safety, food safety, and quality.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• The ability to build high-performing teams and foster a positive team culture.
• Strong attention to detail and compliance focus.
• Confidence engaging with auditors, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders.
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Intermediate technology and reporting skills.

Te Ahurea | Why Silver Fern Farms?

At Silver Fern Farms we're all about creating goodness from the farms the world needs.

Join a business that values its people, invests in leadership development, and provides opportunities to grow your career. You'll work alongside dedicated teams committed to delivering safe, high-quality products while making a meaningful contribution to New Zealand's food industry.

We offer:

• A supportive team environment.
• Competitive remuneration.
• Employee benefits and wellbeing initiatives.
• Career growth within one of New Zealand's leading food companies.

If you're a motivated leader with a passion for people, safety, quality, and operational excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Silver Fern Farms is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.