Advanced Team Lead

Advanced Team Leader (Quality)

JFS – Johnstones Food Service, East Kilbride

Rotating 2‑week Pattern, Nightshift, 18:30 – 06:30

We have an exciting opportunity for an Advanced Team Leader (Quality) to join our Operations Team at Johnstones Food Service, part of Finsbury Food Group.

Finsbury Food Group is a leading specialty bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards and build long‑term relationships within the foodservice channel. Finsbury offers a wide range of bakery products and is a leading frozen supplier into the Foodservice sector.

This is what you’ll actually do!

As Advanced Team Leader (Quality), you will be the first point of contact for all quality‑related activity on shift, ensuring products consistently meet food safety, quality, legality and customer requirements.

Working closely with Operations, Technical, Engineering and Supply Chain teams, you will play a key role in maintaining manufacturing standards, driving continuous improvement and supporting a culture where quality is at the heart of everything we do.

You will monitor product quality throughout the manufacturing process, carry out routine testing, inspections and sampling activities to ensure products meet agreed specifications and food safety requirements.

You will investigate food safety, quality and legality incidents, managing holds, concessions, rejections and near‑misses while ensuring appropriate escalation where required.

You will conduct internal audits across GMP, hygiene, CCPs, allergen controls, foreign body management, documentation and food safety systems, ensuring corrective actions are implemented and closed out effectively.

You will support product trials, launches and process improvement initiatives, helping to reduce variation and improve process consistency.

You will lead daily product quality evaluations, conduct routine quality testing including pH, allergen, weight control and calibration checks, and ensure labels and packaging comply with customer and legal requirements.

You will maintain traceability systems, complete traceability exercises and support customer visits, audits and external inspections.

You will champion GMP standards across the factory, coach colleagues and challenge standards where necessary to drive continuous improvement.

You will use data and root‑cause analysis techniques to identify opportunities to improve quality performance, reduce waste and enhance manufacturing efficiency.

You will support the wider shift leadership team and have the opportunity to deputise for the Manufacturing Shift Lead during periods of absence, providing valuable leadership experience as part of your career development pathway.

Ideally this is you!

• Previous experience within a food manufacturing quality role
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification
• Level 2 HACCP qualification
• Trained Internal Auditor with practical auditing experience
• Strong understanding of food safety, quality and legality requirements within a manufacturing environment
• Experience investigating non‑conformances and applying root‑cause analysis methodologies
• Knowledge of GMP standards, allergen management and traceability requirements
• Experience contributing to continuous improvement initiatives
• Understanding of LEAN manufacturing principles (desirable)
• Knowledge of BRC standards and customer codes of practice
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the confidence to challenge standards when required
• Competent in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Ability to work independently and make informed decisions in a fast‑paced environment
• Ambitious, proactive and motivated to develop into future leadership roles

What’s in it for you

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
• Death in Service Benefit
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
• Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent)
• Employee Recognition Awards
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in‑house development course!)
• Opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.