Reporting To: Production Manager
Location: The Nest, Woods Way, Goring-by-Sea, BN12 4QY
Contract Type: Full Time / Fixed Term Contract
Who are Bird & Blend Tea co?
Bird & Blend was set up and is run by Krisi and Mike, who met whilst studying Politics (of all things!) at university. Starting off packing tea in their bedroom and attending markets, building Bird & Blend from scratch while staying true to our ethos and values has been Krisi and Mike’s passion. Now with an awesome team, multiple retail stores & a thriving international online store, Bird & Blend is leading the way in tea innovation in the UK. You can read heaps more information about us and our mission
here: https://www.birdandblendtea.com/pages/our-story
The Business Context & Purpose
* Currently ~ 160 employees over our warehouse, retail locations across the UK, and support centre functions. In the next couple of years we intend to expand the retail network to include a total of 24 stores.
* Over next 3 years our purpose is to be known & loved as a great place to work, that empowers our people to:
* Deliver awesome experiences that make our customers smile
* Build a community of ambassadors to tell the story and spread the word
* Develop trailblazing products & experiences in our magical world of tea
Why We Need You
As a Production Team Leader at Bird & Blend Tea Co., you are a key player in ensuring that daily production operations run efficiently, safely, and to the highest standard. Sitting between Senior Team Members and the Production Assistant Manager, your role is to supervise the team and workspace, create a positive and productive working environment guiding the team through target times to achieve the production goals and communicate clearly with the Production Manager whilst maintaining great relationships with the Warehouse and Online Fulfilment teams.
By leading from the front, you will uphold food safety standards, and motivate your team to consistently deliver exceptional results, while aligning with the company’s values of sustainability, collaboration, and spreading happiness not only throughout the workplace but to customers too!
In this hands-on leadership role, you will manage a small team within the Production Room, supporting the execution of daily production schedules. You'll ensure that team members are clear on their tasks, trained to a high standard, and that output meets both quality and efficiency expectations. You’ll be responsible for working towards our daily plan, supporting continuous improvement, and reporting directly to the Production Manager.
This is an ideal step-up for someone with senior production experience, looking to take on team management responsibilities while still being actively involved in day-to-day operations and product building process.
Working hours: 5 days per week working 8 hours per day. The shift pattern for this role will be 13:30 - 22:00. Our operational days are Sunday-Friday.
Location: Bird and Blend, Woods Way, Goring-by-Sea, BN12 4QY
Contract length: 6 month initial contract. With possibility of extension or to be made permanent based on the needs of the business.
Preferred start date: On or around the 12th May 2025.
Core Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Supervision
Manage a team of up to 10 on the production floor, delegating tasks, monitoring performance, and maintaining team motivation.
Lead by example with a positive, proactive, and solutions-focused attitude. Follow the Bird and Blend code and demonstrate our core values.
Ensure SOPs are followed and the department is working to its maximum efficiency!
Act as first point of contact for queries or challenges on shift, escalating to Manager/Assistant Manager as needed.
Daily Operations
Oversee daily setup, task transitions, and end-of-day clean-downs to ensure smooth production flow.
Ensure daily production targets and KPIs (efficiency, accuracy, and quality) are met or exceeded.
Use tools like Katana to track stock and traceability, manage workload and workflow where appropriate.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organised production environment in line with H&S and food safety requirements.
Quality control through audits on product, completing and recording daily to maintain quality and standards.
Logging tea issues.
Logging equipment/machinery issues by identifying and reporting problems to the Production Manager.
Communication & Reporting
Provide daily feedback and updates to the Production Manager/Assistant Manager on team performance, output, and any issues.
Support cross-departmental communication where required (e.g., with Online Fulfilment or Warehouse teams).
Communicate company updates and team goals clearly and effectively to production team members.
Quality & Compliance
Carry out basic Quality Control checks and support compliance with food safety regulations.
Identify risks, hazards, or process inefficiencies and escalate or action improvements accordingly.
Ensure full compliance with Bird & Blend’s food safety, hygiene, and health & safety policies.
Sustainability & Social Responsibility
Promote sustainable practices in the production process (e.g., waste reduction, efficient use of materials, disposing of waste correctly).
Support team awareness of company sustainability goals and social initiatives, including chariTEA partnerships.
Lead by example in eco-conscious decision-making and behaviour.
Skills, Experience & Attributes
Experience: Previous experience in a production, food manufacturing, or similar operational environment required. Prior experience supervising or mentoring team members is highly desirable.
Leadership: Ability to manage a team, delegate tasks, and maintain a motivating and supportive work culture in a fast-paced environment.
Organisational Skills: Strong task management, with the ability to handle priorities and shift resources quickly.
Communication: Excellent communicator with a professional, clear, and friendly approach.
Technical Tools: Familiarity with digital production or stock systems (e.g., Katana) is a plus.
Compliance Knowledge: Understanding of food safety and health & safety protocols.
Sustainability Focus: Interest in supporting environmental and social impact in the workplace.
Are there any perks?
Of course there are, for all the hard work you will get:
* To be a member of a growing 'scale up' independent brand that genuinely cares about its team and will support its team members in any areas in which they wish to grow.
* To be a member of a friendly & supportive team who likes to have fun at work.
* Free drinks & snacks in the office.
* Monthly tea allowance and a generous staff discount.
* Free mental health support/therapy.
* Membership of company pension scheme (if applicable).
* Holiday accrual that grows with loyalty.
* Bike to Work Scheme.
* Paid volunteer days.
* Dog-friendly office.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all; applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the application or interview process, please let us know. #J-18808-Ljbffr