Hygiene Department Manager

About us:

The Bread Factory is the UK's leading artisan bakery. Founded by Gail Meija in 1993, The Bread Factory, originally known as Gail Force, began by supplying some of London's most prestigious restaurants, including many with Michelin stars. More than three decades later, we continue to work closely with the best chefs, alongside grocers, foodservice partners and our own neighbourhood bakery, GAIL's.

The Bread Factory is synonymous with quality. We have been awarded more than 100 Great Taste Awards and have held a Royal Warrant since 2016, when it was first granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 2024, the warrant was renewed by His Majesty The King.

We source our ingredients thoughtfully, partnering with farmers and millers who align with our values. The result: delicious, carefully made baked goods that support a more sustainable and nutritious food system; bringing great bread to more tables every day.

As we continue to expand, we are seeking an experienced Department Manager to lead our growing team at our brand-new Milton Keynes site.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Lead the daily operations of the hygiene team, managing team leaders and operatives to ensure high cleaning standards across the site.

• Coordinate rotas, holidays and absences while deputising for the Hygiene Manager when required.

• Ensure all deep cleaning programmes and hygiene schedules are completed in line with site KPIs.

• Maintain and improve SOPs and Cleaning Instruction Cards to support continuous improvement.

• Manage hygiene chemicals, consumables and PPE in line with COSHH and conduct regular stock checks.

• Oversee hygiene audits, microbiological swabbing, incident investigations and staff training records.

About You:

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills with excellent attention to detail.

• Well organised with effective time management and the ability to manage priorities in a fast paced environment.

• Confident written and verbal communicator with strong influencing skills.

• Level 2 or higher Food Safety qualification and Level 3 HACCP.

• Minimum three years experience in food manufacturing, ideally within a technical or production hygiene environment.

• Internal Audit qualification with good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive compensation
• Grow with us – clear career progression and ongoing training to help you reach your full potential.
• Tasty perks – enjoy our freshly baked products on your break and take some home to share with friends and family.
• Exclusive savings – 40–50% discount at The Bread Factory and GAIL’s Bakery.
• Wellbeing support – access to a 24-hour GP service whenever you need it.
• More than just a job – access to our company benefits platform with a range of discounts, rewards, and offers.

Location: Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5BU

Hours: 8am-4pm

Shift: Monday to Friday

Pay: £35,000 per annum

Our Care Values

We care about Job Well Done:

Since 1993, we have been champions in traditional baking with the finest ingredients and techniques. We always do things the right way, not the easy way.

We care about Baking:

At The Bread Factory all our teams take pride in crafting beautiful, freshly baked loaves, pastries, and cakes. We are all passionate about our products and share knowledge among us all.

We care about each other:

We always act with respect, empathy, and support to our employees, neighbours and customers.

We care about community:

We believe in minimising unsustainable practices and reducing waste. Whilst ensuring we continue to provide everyone with nutritious high-quality food.