Operations Technician

Employer: Sincereal UK. Location: Bromborough. Salary: £37,499.00 per annum. Working pattern: 12 hour Shift (days/nights/weekends as per rota), average 42 hours per week.

Benefits: Potential, discretionary annual bonus pension scheme. All Applicants must be over 18.

Scope: We are seeking a dedicated and proactive Operating Technicians to join our cereal production team. The Operating Technician is responsible for the safe, efficient, and high-quality operation of cereal production equipment. This role ensures that manufacturing processes run smoothly, meet production targets, and comply with food safety and quality standards. Operating Technicians play a critical role in delivering consistent product quality while driving continuous improvement in safety, performance, and waste reduction.

Role Purpose:

• Process and Packing Operations: Operate and monitor cereal processing and packaging equipment (e.g., cooking, extrusion, drying, coating, and packing lines). Ensure production runs efficiently to meet daily output and performance targets. Perform start-up, changeovers, and shutdowns in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs). Adjust machine settings to maintain product quality and process stability.
• Quality & Food Safety: Complete quality checks in line with procedures, accurately record data, and elevate issues to ensure compliance. Conduct in-process quality checks and record results accurately. Identify and elevate any deviations in product quality or safety. Follow all food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, GMP, allergen controls).
• Hygiene and Cleanliness: Maintain high housekeeping standards to meet hygiene requirements. Complete cleaning tasks in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs). Comply with GMP and hygiene requirements.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Perform basic maintenance and first-line fault diagnosis on equipment. Report and document equipment issues and downtime events. Support planned maintenance activities where required.
• Health, Safety & Environment (SHE): Wear PPE as required. Conduct behavioural safety observations. Report hazards and incidents in line with safety procedures. Identify improvements, report incidents, and contribute to site SHE objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Suggest and implement improvements to processes, efficiency, and quality. Participate in team meetings and performance reviews.
• Documentation & Reporting: Accurately complete production records, checklists, and logs. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as output, waste, and downtime. Ensure full traceability of materials and finished goods.
• Teamwork: Collaborate with colleagues to ensure effective shift handovers in a 24/7 environment. Support colleagues by sharing knowledge and contributing to skills development.

Key Measures of Success (KPIs):

• Safety: Near miss reporting rate – proactive hazard identification. Safety compliance (%) – PPE, procedures followed. Safety observations completed.
• Quality: Defect rate / scrap % (per shift or line). Customer complaints linked to line. Process parameter adherence (within spec %).
• Productivity: Output vs target. Line efficiency. Labor productivity. OEE.
• Engagement: Skill matrix coverage %. Attendance and punctuality. Absence %.

Shift Pattern Example: Example: x2 days, x3 nights, x4 days off, x3 days, x2 nights, x5 days off, x2 days, x2 nights, x5 days off and repeat.

Skills & Competencies:

• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to follow procedures and compliance standards rigorously.
• Basic IT skills for recording production data.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications & Training:

• Essential: Previous experience in a manufacturing, production, or food processing environment. Basic understanding of machinery operation. Willingness to work shifts and flexible hours.
• Desirable: Experience in food manufacturing (preferably cereal or FMCG). Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, or food safety standards. Operational qualification (NVQ / Apprenticeship or equivalent).

Working Conditions: This role operates in a food manufacturing environment with regular time on the factory floor and exposure to noise, dust (grain), moving machinery, temperature variation, and manual handling activities. Flexibility is required to support shift teams, critical incidents, shutdowns, trials, and business needs.

Equal Opportunities: We work together as one team. Everyone is welcome here, and we treat each other with fairness, respect, and equality.

Right to work in the UK: In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. We have assessed this role and do not consider that we would be able to sponsor a successful candidate under the Skilled Worker route as the role does not meet the relevant Home Office criteria; the successful candidate therefore must be able to demonstrate their own right to work during the recruitment process without sponsorship.