Team Leader - Preparation Department – food production  

Sunday - Thursday  10pm - 6am 

Attention to detail is paramount as you help create our remarkable products and ensure our customers receive the same exciting experience every time.  As a Team Leader in the Preparation Department, you will play a pivotal role in guiding and inspiring your team to achieve exceptional results. You will ensure that daily workloads are effectively planned, monitored, and executed while maintaining high-quality standards and aligning with the company’s core values.

The Role 

• Lead, motivate, and support your team to ensure they perform at their best. Foster a positive and encouraging environment where individuals can grow and thrive.

• Plan and allocate daily tasks, ensuring targets are clear, achievable, and communicated effectively to all team members. Strive for maximum productivity while adhering to company standards.

• Work closely with the management team to coordinate and control departmental activities, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.

• Ensure all relevant processes and paperwork are completed accurately and on time.

• Oversee product quality for every batch, providing your team with the knowledge and training necessary to recognize and deliver excellent results.

• Proactively identify and address challenges, communicating effectively with the Production Manager to implement solutions.

• Maintain clear and effective communication within your team and with other departments to promote seamless operations.

• Encourage and coach your team to embrace continuous improvement in processes, performance, and personal development.

• Utilize effective people management tools to address performance issues, celebrate successes, and identify potential talent within the team for further development.

• Lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to the company’s values and going above and beyond to resolve challenges.

Good to Have 

• Ability to work effectively within a small team where strong communication is essential to success.

• NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) in Catering or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated 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 is highly desirable—this would truly be the icing on the cake!

Other bits

Excellent Benefits including  

• paid breaks

• Free onsite parking

• free food cooked for you every day by our amazing chef

• CookieJar Smart Spending discounts on leading brands

• profit share

• 30% staff discount

• Birthdays off and much more…

About COOK 

COOK is a pioneering frozen food company, since 1997 we’ve been making remarkable food for your freezer, prepared by hand at our Kitchens in Kent (savoury) and Somerset (puddings) using the same ingredients and techniques you would at home. It means our food looks and tastes homemade maybe even a bit better.

We’re market leaders and (more importantly) our food tastes incredible. We have over 90 shops and a rapidly growing online business.

We’re independent (family-owned) and always will be because it allows us to do things the right way, not the fast way. We believe in business as a force for good in society and have certified as one of the UK’s first B Corporations to help us measure what matters when it comes to our impact on our environment, our people and our community.

We share 5% of our annual profits with staff.

Based in Sittingbourne at our COOK Kitchen 

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.

food manufacturing, food production, team leader

INDHP