This Production Worker role in Te Puke, New Zealand involves operating and monitoring pet food production lines (extrusion, batching, loading, and packing) to ensure safe, high-quality output. Responsibilities include routine machine operation, in-process quality checks, basic equipment care, housekeeping, accurate documentation, and strict compliance with GMP/HACCP and health & safety standards. The position is permanent, 35 hours per week, offers an annual salary of NZ$49,140–50,960, and prefers candidates with secondary education and experience in food/FMCG manufacturing, including at least one year of extrusion experience.
Full job description
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: 10
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
