This Dairy Production Team Leader job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Line Leader, Shift Team Leader, Production Lead or Team Leader (Production). Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy Production Team Leader |
| Also known as | Line Leader, Shift Team Leader, Production Lead, Team Leader (Production) |
| Department | Dairy processing |
| Reports to | Production Manager |
| Direct reports | Production operators and trainees |
What does a Dairy Production Team Leader do?
Leads a small production team in a dairy processing unit, making sure milk is processed, bottled and packed safely, to specification and on schedule. Works hands-on alongside the team, organises daily work and training, and keeps hygiene and food safety records up to date.
Dairy Production Team Leader duties and responsibilities
Team leadership
- Plan daily tasks and allocate work to suit each team member's skills and experience
- Build a positive, inclusive team in which people of all abilities can contribute
- Identify training needs and coach team members on processes, hygiene and safety
- Hold short shift briefings and give clear instructions and updates
- Deal with attendance, conduct and performance issues promptly and fairly
Production
- Oversee and take part in milk intake, pasteurisation, bottling and packing
- Make sure each production run meets the agreed schedule, volumes and product specifications
- Monitor process checks such as temperatures, hold times and fill levels, and act on deviations
- Manage stocks of packaging and ingredients and flag shortages early
- Coordinate raw milk supply and finished product dispatch with the relevant teams
Food safety and hygiene
- Apply the HACCP plan and make sure critical control points are monitored and recorded
- Keep production, cleaning and traceability records complete and up to date
- Ensure cleaning schedules and hygiene standards are followed in all production areas
- Support environmental health inspections and customer audits
Health, safety and improvement
- Make sure the team works safely, wears the correct PPE and follows safe systems of work
- Report and investigate accidents and near misses
- Help plan and commission new equipment and process developments
- Suggest improvements to quality, efficiency and waste
Dairy Production Team Leader qualifications and experience
Essential
- Experience leading or supervising a team in food or dairy production
- Hands-on experience of milk processing, bottling or similar food production
- Food hygiene certificate at Level 2 or above and working knowledge of HACCP
- Experience keeping production and food safety records
- Experience supporting team members with different levels of ability and experience
Desirable
- A supervisory or team leadership qualification
- HACCP Level 3
- Experience in small-scale, organic or speciality dairy processing
- Experience training staff
Skills and attributes
- Clear, confident communication
- Strong organisation and planning
- Attention to detail
- Patience and good interpersonal skills
- Ability to work on own initiative and take ownership
- Flexibility to help with wider tasks when needed
How success is measured
- Production schedule and volumes met
- Products consistently within specification
- Complete and accurate food safety records
- Positive hygiene inspection and audit results
- Team training plans delivered
- No lost-time accidents
Working conditions and safety
Early starts and some weekend work in line with production needs. Hands-on work in chilled and wet processing areas, with standing, lifting and full hygiene PPE.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy Production Team Leader interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Production Team Leader role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- Talk me through the process from milk intake to bottled product, and the key checks at each stage.
What a good answer shows: Shows clear process knowledge and understands checks on temperature, hold time, fill level and labelling. - How do you manage a product changeover on a bottling line to avoid mix-ups?
What a good answer shows: Uses line clearance, label and code checks, sign-off and records to prevent wrong packaging or product. - How do you make sure traceability records are complete for every batch?
What a good answer shows: Records batch, ingredient and packaging details at each stage and checks them before the shift ends. - How do you manage stocks of packaging and ingredients so production never runs out?
What a good answer shows: Checks stock against the plan, flags shortages early and keeps accurate records. - Two operators are absent just before a busy shift. How do you keep production on track?
What a good answer shows: Reprioritises, reallocates skills sensibly, keeps safety and food safety checks, and tells the manager about risks early. - The pasteuriser keeps diverting during a run. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Holds affected product, reports to the manager and engineering, and restarts only when the cause is fixed. - How do you make sure your team monitors and records critical control points correctly?
What a good answer shows: Trains staff, checks records during the shift, explains why each CCP matters and acts on gaps immediately. - How do you make sure your team works safely and wears the correct PPE?
What a good answer shows: Sets the example, checks regularly and challenges unsafe behaviour straight away. - How would you handle a team member who is regularly late for shifts?
What a good answer shows: Raises it early and privately, sets clear expectations and follows company policy fairly and consistently. - How do you build a team where everyone can contribute, whatever their experience?
What a good answer shows: Matches tasks to skills, trains patiently, listens to ideas and treats everyone fairly.
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Frequently asked questions
Leads a small production team in a dairy processing unit, making sure milk is processed, bottled and packed safely, to specification and on schedule. Works hands-on alongside the team, organises daily work and training, and keeps hygiene and food safety records up to date.
Employers usually look for: experience leading or supervising a team in food or dairy production; hands-on experience of milk processing, bottling or similar food production; food hygiene certificate at Level 2 or above and working knowledge of HACCP.
A Dairy Production Team Leader usually reports to the Production Manager. Direct reports typically include production operators and trainees.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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