Food Production Team Leader

Food Production Team Leader

Location: Sittingbourne, Kent - COOK Kitchen
Hours: Monday - Friday 6am - 2pm
Pay rate: £28,626 per year / £14.68 per hour

Be the final quality check, the last touch of care, and the leader who brings it all together.

As our Finishing Team Leader you will lead the team that dishes up and adds the final flourish to our remarkable meals. You will make sure every meal meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and pride.

This is more than just a production role - it is about making sure every meal we send is something we'd serve ourselves.

The Role

• Support and motivate the team to achieve daily production targets while maintaining food safety, hygiene, and quality standards.
• Assist with the smooth running of the finishing area, ensuring team members are allocated effectively throughout the shift.
• Ensure all products meet required presentation, portion, and packaging standards.
• Follow all Health & Safety and food safety procedures, encouraging a "right first time" approach across the team.
• Provide guidance and day-to-day support to colleagues, helping new starters settle in and work confidently within the department.
• Respond to operational issues in a calm and practical manner to help keep production running efficiently.
• Work closely with other departments including prep, kitchen, dispatch, planning, and hygiene to ensure a smooth production flow.

Good to Have

• Ability to work effectively within a small team where strong communication is essential to success.
• Experience in leading a team, with a focus on maintaining high standards and attention to detail.
• Prior experience in a busy preparation department within food manufacturing.

If you tick most of these boxes but not all - don't stress. We are all about potential.

Excellent Benefits Including

• Free cooked from fresh lunch for all employees.
• Free car park.
• Paid leave on your birthdays, moving house, becoming a grandparent or your child starting school for the first time.
• Staff profit share.
• Wellbeing program.
• 30% staff discount.
• Access to CookieJar Smart Spending discounts and free food perks.
• Team meals, events & away days.
• Be part of a B-Corp-certified business that values sustainability, people, and the community.

Additional employee benefits.

What COOK is About

We are a proudly independent, family-owned B Corp, which basically means we care. A lot. About our food. About our people. And about doing the right thing - even when it is not the easy thing.

Our vision for COOK has always been that we are a place where EVERYONE is welcome. We want everyone to feel like they belong at COOK. We all have different roles, different abilities and different personalities. By collaborating we can do remarkable things. Whatever your story, if you would like to grow with COOK please apply.