Hygiene Manager
Leeds outskirts, West Yorkshire
Salary: £50,000 + benefits
Working Hours: Monday to Friday (flexibility required)
Location: Between York and Leeds; commutable from North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Castleford, Wakefield, Pontefract, Wetherby, Garforth, Tadcaster, Malton.
The Opportunity
Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are recruiting for an experienced Hygiene Manager to take ownership of hygiene standards across a fast-paced food manufacturing site. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring that all areas of the factory—both equipment and environment—are maintained to the highest possible standards, meeting all regulatory, customer, and audit requirements.
You will act as the site subject matter expert for hygiene, driving continuous improvement and leading a team to deliver audit-ready performance at all times.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
* Lead, manage, and develop a hygiene team across multiple shifts
* Oversee recruitment, training, performance management, and absence planning
* Coach operational and hygiene teams on best practice cleaning methodologies
* Drive a strong culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement
Hygiene & Compliance
* Ensure all cleaning schedules are completed effectively and to the required standard
* Maintain full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and COSHH regulations
* Manage hygiene documentation, including SOPs, risk assessments, and cleaning instructions (CICs)
* Ensure machinery is safely cleaned, signed off, and ready for production use
* Investigate non-conformances and implement corrective actions within agreed timelines
Audits, Safety & Standards
* Support internal and external audits, including unannounced customer audits
* Maintain a safe working environment and ensure all incidents are reported and investigated
* Work cross-functionally to continuously improve hygiene standards
* Manage pest control processes and contractors, driving improvements year on year
Chemical & Cleaning Management
* Control and monitor chemical usage, ensuring correct application and safe handling
* Maintain COSHH systems, PPE compliance, and chemical titration processes
* Build strong relationships with chemical and hygiene suppliers
* Ensure correct tools, equipment, and stock levels are always available
Continuous Improvement
* Identify opportunities to improve hygiene processes, efficiency, and cost control
* Manage budgets relating to labour, chemicals, and consumables
* Implement and review hygiene systems and procedures to enhance performance
About You
Experience
* Proven experience in a Hygiene Manager (or similar) role within food manufacturing
* Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene standards, and COSHH requirements
* Experience managing teams in a fast-paced environment
* Experience supporting audits and working with regulatory bodies (desirable)
Skills & Competencies
* Strong leadership and people management skills
* Excellent attention to detail and organisational ability
* Ability to prioritise, plan, and meet deadlines
* Confident using Microsoft Office and managing documentation
* Passionate about hygiene standards and continuous
Qualifications
* Hygiene, Food Safety, or COSHH-related training (or equivalent experience)
* Retail/customer hygiene accreditation (desirable)
Benefits
* Competitive salary £50,000
* 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
* Pension scheme
* Life assurance
* Healthcare cash plan
* Access to salary sacrifice schemes (e.g. electric car, cycle to work)
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