Position: Production Worker 

Location: 240 Jellicoe St. Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Working hours: 35 hours per week

Salary Range: NZ$49,140-50,960/annum

Number of vacancies: 5

 

JOB PURPOSE

Operate and monitor pet food production lines including but not limited to batching, loading, extrusion, and packing and related equipment to produce safe, high-quality products at planned output rates. The role focuses on routine plant operation, in-process checks, accurate recording, basic equipment care, and housekeeping across all assigned lines, following SOPs, GMP/HACCP, and Health & Safety requirements. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Production Line Operation & Process Control (All Lines) 

  • Perform routine line start-up, operation, changeovers, and shutdown on assigned lines, with extrusion as the primary line and other lines such as batching, loading, and packing, using SOPs and checklists. 

  • Monitor process parameters (e.g., temperature, moisture, pressure, speed, weights, metal detector checks) and make routine SOP-approved adjustments within defined limits; escalate non-routine changes to the Production Lead / Shift Supervisor. 

  • Maintain steady material flow and correct batch/recipe sequencing between lines (from raw materials through to finished goods). 

  • Weigh/measure and load ingredients, premixes, and packaging materials based on issued formulations, pick lists, and work orders. 

  • Operate batching automation and/or manual batching steps as trained, ensuring correct ingredient sequencing and traceability. 

  • Stage and transfer raw materials, WIP, and finished goods between areas (e.g., warehouse, batching, extrusion, drying, coating, packing) using pallet jacks or forklifts as licensed and authorised. 

  • Perform packing and palletising activities, including making up cartons, stacking pallets, applying labels, and wrapping pallets as per standards. 

  • Coordinate with Warehouse/Logistics for timely supply and removal of materials to avoid line stoppages. 

  • Perform efficient changeovers between products, ensuring correct flushing/cleaning steps and documentation.

2. Product Quality Monitoring

  • Perform in-process visual checks (shape, size, color, density, texture, coating coverage, pack seals, coding/expiry dates) and confirm products meet standards before transferring to downstream steps (drying, coating, packing, palletising). 

  • Conduct in-line checks (e.g., metal detector challenges, weight checks, seal integrity checks, code legibility) and record results accurately. 

  • Collect samples as required and coordinate with QA for checks; act on QA/Lead instructions for routine corrections and rework. 

  • Immediately report non-conformities, foreign matter risks, mislabeling, or abnormal readings to the Lead/Supervisor and follow instructions on segregation, hold, or rework. 

3.Basic Equipment Care & Housekeeping (5S/GMP)

  • Conduct basic operator care only (cleaning, pre-start checks, visual inspection, simple adjustments within training); repairs and technical maintenance are completed by trained technicians. 

  • Complete pre-start checks (guards, emergency stops, sensors, foreign body controls) and report issues before starting production. 

  • Keep all assigned production areas clean, orderly, and pest-safe, aligned with GMP/HACCP, allergen control, and 5S standards.

  • Promptly report equipment faults or abnormal noise/vibration; assist Maintenance/ Technicians during minor stoppages and restart as directed.

4. Health, Safety & Compliance

  • Follow all company H&S policies and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. 

  • Use PPE correctly, follow lock-out/tag-out, machine guarding, confined space, and other safety procedures relevant to each line. 

  • Stop work for unsafe conditions and immediately notify the Lead/Supervisor or H&S representative. 

  • Report hazards, near misses, and incidents immediately and participate in corrective/ preventive actions (e.g., toolbox talks, risk assessments). 

  • Follow all food safety, hygiene, allergen, and contamination-control procedures in line with GMP, HACCP, and customer/market requirements.

5.Documentation & Team Collaboration

  • Accurately record production outputs, downtime, CCP/parameter logs, metal detector checks, weight checks, cleaning records, and traceability forms for all assigned lines. 

  • Ensure paperwork and electronic entries are complete, legible, and done in real time or as instructed. 

  • Work closely with other operators, QA, Warehouse, and supervisors to maintain smooth shift handovers and achieve output targets. 

  • Participate in shift handover discussions (issues, actions, open holds, upcoming changeovers) to keep the next team informed

6. Ad hoc

  • Perform other tasks as assigned and realign work as needed to support changing business needs 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education

  • Completion of secondary education (or equivalent) preferred.

Work Experience

  • Experience in food, pet food, or FMCG manufacturing is preferred.  

  • Minimum 1 year extrusion experience; 2+ years preferred
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