Food Safety & hygiene Operative

Job Description

Reports to: Technical Manager

Department: Quality Assurance / Technical

Location: West Midlands

Hours: 40 hours per week (days and backs)

Job Purpose

The Food Safety & Hygiene Operative is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of hygiene, sanitation, environmental control and contamination prevention within a blended powder manufacturing facility.

Working as part of the Quality Assurance team, the role supports the site's hygiene strategy by ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, HACCP principles, GMP, BRCGS Food Safety requirements, customer standards and internal quality systems.

Operating within a waterless cleaning environment, the role focuses on effective dry-cleaning techniques, allergen control, pathogen risk reduction and environmental hygiene to protect product safety and product quality. The post holder plays a key role in supporting hygiene verification programmes, microbiological monitoring and continuous improvement while promoting a strong food safety culture.

Key Responsibilities

Hygiene Operations

• Complete scheduled hygiene activities across production, packing, warehouse and associated areas.
• Carry out approved dry-cleaning procedures suitable for a powder manufacturing environment.
• Clean production equipment, contact surfaces, floors, structures and storage areas to defined hygiene standards.
• Remove product residues, powder build-up, allergens, microbiological risks and other contamination sources.
• Ensure cleaning activities support first-time-right hygiene verification and minimise contamination risks.
• Identify and report opportunities to improve hygiene standards and cleaning effectiveness.
• Maintain excellent housekeeping throughout operational areas.

Food Safety & Contamination Control

• Understand contamination risks including pathogens, allergen cross-contact, environmental contamination and foreign material.
• Follow hygiene procedures that support HACCP, prerequisite programmes and food safety controls.
• Maintain effective allergen controls within a nut-free manufacturing environment.
• Apply cleaning practices that minimise conditions supporting microbial survival and growth.
• Recognise how effective hygiene contributes to environmental monitoring, microbiological performance and overall product safety.

Hygiene Verification Support

• Work closely with Quality Assurance personnel to support hygiene verification activities.
• Assist with investigations relating to hygiene failures, allergen risks or microbiological concerns.
• Use hygiene feedback, environmental monitoring results and inspection findings to improve cleaning standards.
• Support corrective actions following audits, non-conformances and product investigations.

Equipment & Cleaning Standards

Clean and maintain manufacturing equipment in accordance with approved procedures, including:

• Blending equipment
• Transfer systems
• Packing equipment
• Manufacturing utensils
• Contact surfaces
• Storage areas
• Ensure hard-to-access areas and potential contamination points are effectively managed.

Cleaning Equipment & Chemical Control

• Use approved cleaning equipment, tools and chemicals safely in accordance with COSHH requirements.
• Follow hygiene zoning, colour coding and equipment segregation procedures.
• Maintain cleaning equipment in good condition and report defects promptly.
• Follow appropriate health and safety procedures, including working at height or within confined spaces where applicable.

Quality & Compliance

Support compliance with:

• BRCGS Food Safety
• HACCP
• GMP
• Allergen management
• Customer technical standards
• Site hygiene procedures
• Recognise that effective hygiene is a critical food safety control directly influencing microbiological performance, allergen management, audit compliance and product quality.

Documentation & Records

Maintain accurate, timely and traceable records, including:

• Cleaning schedules
• Hygiene inspections
• Equipment cleaning records
• Pre-operational hygiene checks
• Line clearance and changeover records
• Allergen cleaning verification
• Deep-clean records
• Chemical usage records
• Cleaning equipment inspections
• Hygiene non-conformances and corrective actions
• Investigation and continuous improvement records
• All documentation must meet site requirements and provide evidence for internal, customer and certification audits.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience within food manufacturing hygiene, sanitation or cleaning.
• Experience working in controlled hygiene environments.
• Understanding of food hygiene, GMP and contamination prevention.
• Experience following detailed cleaning procedures and schedules.
• Knowledge of allergen control, COSHH and waterless cleaning principles.

Desirable

Experience within:

• Powder manufacturing
• Nutritional or pharmaceutical manufacturing
• High-care food production
• BRCGS-certified sites
• Allergen-controlled manufacturing
• Dry-cleaning production environments

Knowledge of:

• Environmental monitoring
• Microbiological testing
• Pathogen control
• Hygiene verification programmes

Key Performance Measures

Success in the role will be demonstrated through:

• Consistently high hygiene standards across production areas.
• Effective completion of cleaning schedules.
• Positive environmental monitoring and microbiological results.
• Strong allergen control.
• Reduced hygiene-related deviations.
• Successful internal, customer and certification audits.
• Accurate hygiene documentation.
• Effective risk identification and escalation.
• Contribution to continuous improvement.
• Maintenance of food safety standards within a nut-free, waterless manufacturing environment.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Excellent attention to detail.
• A methodical and organised approach.
• Strong personal accountability.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Effective communication skills.
• A proactive, solutions-focused attitude.
• High standards of cleanliness and housekeeping.
• Commitment to food safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Confidence to challenge poor standards where necessary.
• Professionalism, integrity and respect in all interactions.
• Practical, hands-on approach with strong problem-solving skills.
• Pride in maintaining exceptional hygiene standards and protecting consumers.

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