Team Leader Chocolate Production
Full-time position (Schiedam)
From 70 tons of chocolate per year to more structure on the shop floor. Will you help us build?
At De Bonte Koe, we make chocolate that connects people. As a family business, we have been working for years with honest cocoa, attention to quality, and respect for people and the environment. We are a proud B-Corp and believe that craftsmanship and responsibility go hand in hand. And we are growing fast! With our own artisanal factory, 8 top performers in production, and 6 of our own stores, we have definitely outgrown the 'small workshop' phase. What's still missing? The indispensable link on the floor. Someone to lead the production team, bring calm to the hustle and bustle, and be the perfect interpreter for our Operations Manager.
As Team Leader Chocolate Production, you will be responsible for the entire production and the team. You will be hands-on in the chocolate for about 60-70% of your time AND ensure that everything runs smoothly with your leadership skills. Not mass production, but meaningful craftsmanship with structure.
What will you do?
- Ultimate responsibility on the floor: You are responsible for the entire daily production and the team, and you also actively participate on the floor.
- Planning & Process Optimization: You work closely with the Operations Manager to align planning and help us successfully transition production to batch production.
- Monitor quality and hygiene: You maintain calm in the process and rigorously monitor artisanal quality, correct recipes, and HACCP regulations.
- Connect: You ensure everyone knows what needs to be done – and why.
- Improve: You identify bottlenecks on the floor and actively contribute ideas on how processes can be made even smarter or more efficient, without losing sight of craftsmanship.
Who are we looking for?
- You have at least 3 years of experience as a team leader, working foreman, or first operator in the food industry (for example, in chocolate, patisserie, a larger bakery, or high-end catering).
- You have a natural authority, are strong in communication, and always maintain an overview.
- You have an ironclad knowledge of HACCP and applicable hygiene rules.
- You lead by doing; you are practical, down-to-earth, and prefer to be on the floor with your team rather than behind a desk.
- You feel at home in a growing SME environment and support values such as honest, sustainable, and transparent working.
- You live within commuting distance of Schiedam.
What do we offer you?
- A salary of up to €3,000 gross per month (depending on your knowledge and experience).
- A crucial pivotal role with a lot of responsibility in a wonderful, growing, and healthy family business.
- A lot of freedom and space to further shape the structure on the production floor yourself.
- Working in a close-knit, enthusiastic team and always in a stable day shift.
- Room for your craftsmanship and your own ideas to elevate the team and the process.
- An organization where quality and meaning are always more important than pure speed.
Why De Bonte Koe? Because here you don't just process numbers, you create meaningful chocolate. Because you work with people who are genuinely proud of what they make. And because you contribute to a beautiful growth story that goes far beyond just kilos.
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are important to us. Everyone is welcome to apply, regardless of background, religion, skin color, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability. Differences actually make our team stronger.
Interested?
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to build the future of De Bonte Koe with us? Please send an email with your personal details and motivation to: gizem@debontekoe.nl.
If there is a potential match, we will contact you by phone!