Production Operative (Food Industry)

Location: Outskirts of Ashford, Kent (you will need your own transport)

Salary: 28,662 + contracted overtime OTE 30,409

Hours: Rotating Shifts Monday to Friday

• Early Shift - Monday 5am - 2pm (first 1h paid at x1.5) / Tuesday to Friday 5.45am - 2pm (first 15m paid at x1.5)
• Late Shift - Monday to Friday 1.45pm - 10pm (first 15m paid at x1.5)

Our Client: A leading distributor of high-quality produce serving a wide range of customers in the food service and retail industries. They are committed to providing customers with the finest frozen fruit and vegetable products while maintaining the highest standards of quality and food safety.

Role Summary: As a Senior Production Operative you will play a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the business, ensuring the efficient processing, packaging and quality control of our clients produce.

Benefits:

• 21 days annual leave + bank holidays
• 5% pension
• Life Insurance
• Training & Development / Career Progression Opportunities
• Annual Bonus
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free produce once a week

Key responsibilities within your new role would be to:

• Support the Team Leader and Shift Manager with the efficient running of the lines.
• Setting up print machines to ensure the correct print is on each customers packaging as specified.
• Using a counterbalance forklift to ensure production lines have sufficient produce and packaging.
• Move pallets from one area to another using the forklift.
• Loading produce into hoppers for production.
• Weighing the correct amount of produce as per each recipe / job sheet.
• Lifting boxes of up to 10kg into hoppers.
• Quality checking produce as it passed through the line.
• Deep cleaning of production equipment after each run to avoid contamination.
• Completing paperwork to ensure traceability of all produce.
• Printing and labelling finished goods for dispatch.
• Wrapping pallets for distribution.
• Work closely with other teams and departments to maximise task efficiency.
• Achieve Line and personal KPI's.
• Ensure and maintain quality of the product.
• Eliminate non-conformance's (job right first time).
• Gain good working knowledge of the routine machine operations of the line equipment.
• Optimise line efficiency whilst maintaining and improving standards.
• Responsible for minding machines in the absence of the Team Leader.
• Train, coach and monitor the performance and compliance of Production Operatives & Agency Staff.
• Health & Safety Champion.
• Good Manufacturing Practice Champion.
• Champion continuous improvement in the factory including Lean Manufacturing Techniques.

Experience and skills required for this position:

• Have an existing counterbalance forklift licence (ideal not essential)
• You will need your own transport due to location.
• Analytical and attention to detail skills for the completion of documentation.
• Computer literate.
• Have a can do attitude - leads by example and takes a hands on approach.
• Have good communication at all levels using verbal and written methods.
• This role will require entering a cold store during the day so you must be comfortable with entering cold temperatures.
• This role will be on your feet and can be physically demanding so you must be physically fit.

Next steps: If this sounds like the ideal position for you and you have the experience outlined above, then please apply and you will be contacted by a member of our team if your CV matches our requirements.