STO Technical Nights in Wisbech

Drives, leads, and offers technical support to lines for the manufacture, processing or packing of food in cans. Optimising all aspects of the lines to achieve KPIs for health and safety, process safety, food safety, quality, OEE and continuous improvement.

Operates as a Senior Technical Operator with responsibility for all aspects of performance of a clearly defined area. Manages a small number of people who report directly. Proactively drives best practices and improvements. Will be part of the team operating on a 4-shift system; responsible for the delivery of planned production through the production/packing line.

The key challenges will be to ensure guidelines are adhered to for product and process safety, the materials supply, changeovers, and organisation of labour on the line; should not impact overall line performance (OEE) or RFT and the utilisation of the lines. Analyse potential problems and take appropriate action to remedy any shortfall in performance, seeing actions through to completion/implementation via SIC.

Consistently achieve agreed targets and KPIs: safety, product safety & waste, quality, labour productivity, OEE and RFT. Consistently organise and plan for production and operations maintenance. Build positive relationships with good morale and cooperation within the team and other areas of the business.

At STO Grade, the person will be expected to understand, carry out and manage five or more functional areas of job operations, demonstrate behaviours and skills outlined in the competency matrix, and flexibly move across operations as needed. Accountabilities and competencies are to be demonstrated in line with the site competency matrix.

• Optimises equipment performance to meet and exceed key performance indicators in the areas of safety, food, product and process safety, quality, yield, OEE, cost, right first time and service.
• Initiates corrective actions where required standards are not being met.
• Monitors compliance with CCPs at all times.
• Monitors and ensures correct disposal of waste.
• Audits and verifies area of responsibility, ensuring processes, policies and compliance requirements are met.
• Ensures the cleaning of lines to a set standard is achieved.
• Conducts hygiene audits on time.
• Records information on shift reports and performs effective detailed shift hand-over/hygiene walk-round following a structured format.
• Conducts daily tours of area – auditing all KPIs.
• Liaises with internal suppliers over material problems and reports on quality issues (e.g., raise a QNC).
• Checks, fault-finds and problem-solves, seeing any actions through to completion.
• Raises work requests if required.
• Demonstrates understanding of complex problems and can identify and implement solutions using basic problem-solving tools.
• Always obtains required standards for area of responsibility – taking positive actions to correct if sub-standard.
• Communicates effectively with key stakeholders, including team members, peers, line managers etc.
• Understands impacts and takes appropriate actions on the area’s performance, internally and externally.
• Continuously and constructively challenges current ways.
• Identifies and acts upon opportunities for improvement.
• Shares with peer group best practice and key learnings to ensure optimum performance across a shift system.
• Is self-motivated, committed to all aspects of the role and requires little supervision; teamwork is essential for success within a fully integrated manufacturing team.
• Identifies training needs and addresses them with peers.
• Leads/supports people processes as directed by Shift Coordinator (absence management, investigation support).
• Enthuses and encourages others to work towards common goals and delivery of departmental objectives and KPIs.
• Recognises own successes and areas for development.
• Prepares for own EDR and supports the delivery of operators' EDR, providing constructive feedback.
• Ensures all SAP and MES transactions and reports are completed in a timely manner.
• Ensures operations engineering PMs are completed to the required frequency and standard.
• Leads, implements, and sustains new PMS standardisation methods, changing the way the department/site operates.
• Ensures training tasks are up to date by reviewing training matrices, identifying, and implementing training plans to cover any gaps in skills.
• Reviews and completes sign-off for training documentation (e.g., SOPs) as required.
• Deputises for the Shift Coordinator during holidays, sickness or training courses and fulfils those duties and responsibilities.
• Is flexible to be moved or trained across the site and utilises skills in other departments.

These are the key daily tasks, not a comprehensive list of all tasks undertaken by the jobholder. Flexibility is required by the business and will be agreed with the individual’s line manager.

• Experience within a food-processing environment and understanding of hygiene standards is essential.
• Competent numeracy and literacy skills.
• Demonstrable experience in driving continuous improvement.
• Experience in managing and directing a team.