About Us

We’re a full-scale, energy-saving, B-Corp certified, sustainably powered vertical farm. We’re on a mission to transform the farming system forever, so that everyone can afford tasty nutritious food, that doesn’t cost the earth. Literally.

In other words: we boldly grow where no one has grown before. Our state-of-the-art salad leaves are made possible by an incredible team of rocket scientists (see what we did there?), engineers, leaf whisperers, and a root network of fabulous people. Which brings us onto the role…

The Role

This role will be a 6 month fixed term contract and operate on a 4 days on, 4 days off shift pattern, from 6pm to 5am and will be based on our main site, Pepperness, in Sandwich, Kent.

The Hygiene Operative will have a pivotal impact in our brand-new facility right at the heart of our state-of-the-art Vertical Farm in Sandwich, Kent, where you will be supporting the site in producing delicious food products by maintaining a top-class level of hygiene in the production areas. Your primary purpose is to ensure the factory is kept to a high standard that as a minimum will meet, if not exceed our food hygiene standards. This means working as a multi skilled Hygiene Coordinator and other operatives within an effective and efficient hygiene team, delivering high standards of cleaning throughout the site in accordance with company, customer and legal requirements. 

Hygiene Operative responsibilities: 

• Communicating when supplies are low and need replenishing. 
• Highlighting staff training needs and carryout where necessary. 
• Ensuring working areas are free from slips, trips and fall hazards and that all Health & Safety requirements are met. 
• Ensure all housekeeping equipment is in good working order and report any faults, maintain an inventory of equipment. 
• Strip and clean operational lines 
• Decanting of cleaning and sanitising chemicals 
• Carrying out log out and tag out process on equipment used. 
• Responsible for hygiene standards in the main factory high care production and low care warehouse areas to include the seeding, harvesting, packing and despatch zones.  
• Completing safety checks and maintaining accurate cleaning records. 
• Ensure all tasks are carried out according to the standard cleaning procedures and CIC (Cleaning Instruction Cards) in terms of GMP, food safety, presentation and housekeeping.  
• Ensure all relevant tasks are completed on time and escalate issues to your direct manager. Examples: a risk to Food Safety, Health and Safety, missing parts, damaged equipment, faulty equipment etc. 
• Look for improvements and challenge the current system if you can see efficiencies. 
• Create and maintain a tidy working environment, following the clean as you go policy and all daily given tasks.  

Requirements

Prior experience in a Hygiene Operative, Food Operative or Quality Controller role in a high-care or clean-room environment would be highly advantageous for this role.

Day to day  

• Follow the cleaning instructions in each area. 
• Ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner. 
• Deliver a top-class level of cleaning. 
• Ensure paperwork and documentation is completed correctly and given to the technical manager. 
• Pack away your chemicals and equipment in a safe and secure manner in its designated area. 

Health and Safety and Food Safety  

• Meet all responsibilities as required under the company health and safety at work policy. 
• Work in safe manner to eliminate personal risk and risk to others. 
• Work as a role model when conducting your duties. 
• Support and promote an active Food and Safety Culture. 
• Address or report any hazard observed immediately, health or food related. 
• Ensure correct PPE is always worn. 
• Maintain personal hygiene to a high standard. 

Benefits

• 20 days holiday
• Bupa Health Cash Plan
• Bravo Benefits Programme (discounts in your local area, Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme).
• Paid volunteering days
• Free fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate (and of course salad!)
• Group income protection insurance
• Pension (employer contribution of 5%, employee 3%)