Appointment: Hygiene Operative (NightShift)

Position: Permanent

Location: Inverkeithing – KY11 1HZ

Reporting Line: Nightshift Supervisor/Production Manager

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced, hands-on Hygiene Operative to join our nightshift hygiene team within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This is a key role responsible for maintaining high hygiene and food safety standards across production areas and machinery. The successful candidate will be confident working independently, stripping down and cleaning production equipment, using industrial cleaning chemicals and foaming systems, identifying hygiene risks and supporting the wider hygiene team. The successful candidate will also be expected to provide Hygiene Supervisor cover during periods of annual leave or other planned absence. This will include supporting daily task allocation, coordinating the hygiene team, monitoring completion of cleaning activities, maintaining hygiene standards and escalating issues to the Production Manager.

Tasks and Accountabilities

• Support the Hygiene Supervisor with daily workload planning, task allocation, team coordination and training.
• Provide Hygiene Supervisor cover during annual leave or other planned absence, including coordinating the hygiene team and monitoring completion of cleaning activities.
• Conduct deep cleaning of machinery, production areas, and factory spaces, ensuring safe breakdown, cleaning, and reassembly of equipment.
• Maintaining compliance with Food Safety, HACCP, GMP requirements ensuring cleaning is carried out effectively and to the required standard.
• Use industrial cleaning chemicals and foaming systems safely, including correct dilution/concentration and COSHH compliance.
• Identify hygiene risks, difficult-to-clean areas and defects; take corrective action where possible and escalate unresolved issues.
• Manage hygiene consumables, chemicals and equipment, including accurate stock control and reporting shortages or issues.
• Work closely with Engineering and Production and report defective machinery or equipment that may affect hygiene or food safety.
• Complete required documentation and promptly report procedural breaches, hygiene failures or food safety concerns.
• Take ownership of hygiene standards within designated areas and challenge poor standards or non-compliance when identified.

Desired Experience

• Minimum 2 years' experience in food manufacturing, industrial hygiene or a similar production environment
• Previous experience as a senior hygiene operative, hygiene team leader or providing supervisor cover.
• Experience of stripping down, cleaning and reassembling production machinery.
• Hands on experience with deep cleaning, foaming, sanitation and cleaning complex production equipment.
• Experience of working in coldstore environments.

Key Attributes

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to coordinate and support a hygiene team when the Hygiene Supervisor is absent
• Excellent attention to detail, including the ability to identify contamination risks, hygiene defects and difficult-to-clean areas.
• Able to work independently, take ownership and make sound decisions within the scope of the role.
• Confident problem-solver with a focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Clear communicator, able to work effectively with colleagues, contractors, and visitors.
• Physically fit, self-motivated, and comfortable working to strict deadlines.
• Supportive team player with a commitment to maintaining high hygiene standards.

Working Environment

This is a physically demanding industrial hygiene role within a chilled food manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will work with industrial cleaning equipment and chemicals and will be required to wear appropriate PPE. The role involves frequent manual handling, working around production machinery, wet environments and working to strict hygiene deadlines.

Working Pattern

• Nightshift – 40