Senior Operator

SUMMARY:

A leading pet food manufacturing company with a keen interest in the companion animal industry is seeking the above to lead and oversee the safe, efficient, and high-quality operation of the entire Blue Zone (cooking pots, pressing, milling, and packing), consistently achieving daily production targets while maintaining full compliance with food safety (HACCP), quality, health & safety (OHSACT), and GMP standards.

POSITION INFO:

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have Grade 12 or higher (tertiary education will be of an advantage)
• Minimum 3 years’ hands-on operational/technical experience in a rendering, food, or related continuous-process manufacturing environment (experience in cooking/fat-rendering processes is highly advantageous)
• Proven leadership/supervisory experience with the ability to train, motivate, and manage a team in a production setting
• Strong working knowledge of food safety (HACCP/FSSC 22000), quality systems, GMP, and health & safety (OHSACT) in a food or feed manufacturing plant
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability, particularly in high-pressure, variable raw-material environments, and the capability to adapt plans quickly
• Ability to work shifts (including night shift), stand/walk for extended periods, climb stairs, work in hot, humid, and unpleasant odorous conditions, and possess good eyesight and verbal communication skills

• Leading and supervising the Blue Zone team (pot operators, press operators, and packers), allocating tasks, monitoring performance, and ensuring optimum team efficiency and accountability.
• Fully understanding and enforcing correct processing parameters, recipes, cooking methods, and cooking times in accordance with Act 36 and internal specifications to maximize pot turnaround and yield.
• Continuously monitoring and controlling Critical Control Points (CCPs) and operational Prerequisite Programmes (oPRPs) in the cooking process.
• Liaising closely with the Intake Senior Operator, Fat Press Operators, and Packing team to ensure seamless batch flow, prevent backlogs, and meet daily pressing and packing targets.
• Monitoring cooks in real time, identifying abnormal situations (e.g., high moisture, long cook times, press delays), and adapting the production plan accordingly to protect throughput.
• Ensuring finished product quality by rigorous sampling of every batch, accurate labelling, correct sample storage for QC, and ensuring all products meet specifications.
• Driving and enforcing excellent housekeeping, GMP, food-safety (HACCP), and health & safety (OHSACT) standards throughout the Blue Zone, including safe forklift and equipment operation.
• Ensuring correct blowdown practices are followed to prevent condenser blockages and proactively identifying equipment faults, immediately alerting maintenance to minimize downtime.
• Recording, investigating, and closing out non-conformances in collaboration with the Production/Assistant Production Manager, and implementing corrective actions.
• Actively communicating with the team and across shifts/departments, training operators, promoting discipline, teamwork, accountability, and a positive working environment, and performing any additional reasonable duties assigned by management.