Machine Operator / Senior Machine Operator / Machine Supervisor
Company: Zeus Media Limited
Location: WS9 8BZ — On-site
Job Type: Full-time
Shifts: Weekly rotation — 6am–2pm / 2pm–10pm
Salary: £27,260–£37,120, depending on experience, skill level, and proven ability
Salary & Role Level Note
Zeus Media operates a structured progression route for production staff.
The salary offered will depend on your current experience, practical ability, mechanical understanding, independence, and leadership capability.
The lower end of the salary range is suitable for candidates who are still developing their skills and require training. The upper end of the salary range is reserved for highly experienced candidates who can work independently, support others, make confident production decisions, and provide strong technical input on the production floor.
We are ultimately looking for people who can grow into, or already operate at, senior operator or supervisor level.
About Zeus Media Limited
Zeus Media Limited is not a standard label manufacturer.
We are a fast-moving, technically driven company that is constantly improving the way production is planned, measured and delivered. We invest in our own machinery, build our own internal software, develop our own production systems, and look for better ways to do things rather than simply accepting “how it has always been done”.
Our factory is clean, modern and practical, but the real difference is the mindset. We expect people to think, solve problems, take ownership and push standards forward.
We operate in a demanding production environment where quality, speed, mechanical understanding and teamwork all matter. The best people at Zeus are hands-on, switched on, calm under pressure and willing to step in when something needs doing.
This is a company for people who want to be part of something progressive. We are building systems, processes and standards that are ahead of the industry, and we want production staff who can grow with that.
This is not an office or clipboard role. Whether you join as a developing operator or an experienced supervisor, you will be expected to be practical, reliable, mechanically aware and willing to get involved.
We are looking for people who want to be part of an elite production environment — not because of job titles, but because of standards, attitude, output and the way we solve problems.
Role LevelsMachine Operator — Level 1
This is the beginner/development level.
At this level, you will be learning the machines, understanding the production process, and supporting more experienced operators and supervisors.
You may be involved with:
- Setting and preparing cores
- Learning machine layouts and basic controls
- Helping with setup preparation
- Assisting with materials, rolls, and basic production tasks
- Learning job bags, winding instructions, and quality standards
- Building confidence around machinery and production flow
This level suits someone who is practical, reliable, willing to learn, and comfortable working in a hands-on production environment.
Machine Operator — Level 2
At this level, you should be able to work more independently and add value to the production line.
You may be expected to:
- Run or support machines with less supervision
- Fix basic web breaks
- Load paper and materials safely
- Understand basic job instructions
- Support changeovers and setups
- Keep the machine area organised and moving efficiently
- Identify simple issues and take practical action
- Maintain good production standards during a run
This level suits someone with machine experience who can be trusted to work autonomously for periods of time and contribute positively to production output.
Machine Operator — Level 3
At this level, you should be a strong, competent operator who can work independently for extended periods.
You may be expected to:
- Run machinery confidently and consistently
- Understand paper types, materials, and job requirements
- Read and interpret job bags and production instructions accurately
- Recognise production issues before they become larger problems
- Give useful feedback on presses, jobs, materials, and setup issues
- Support less experienced operators where needed
- Maintain strong quality, safety, and housekeeping standards
- Take ownership of the work being produced on your machine
This level suits an experienced operator who is reliable, technically aware, and able to make good practical decisions without constant supervision.
Senior Operator / Supervisor Levels
Above Machine Operator level, the role becomes more focused on ownership, technical judgement, leadership, and supporting the wider production line.
Senior Operators and Supervisors may be expected to:
- Oversee a line, machine group, or section of the factory
- Support operators during setups, changeovers, and production issues
- Make fine mechanical adjustments
- Help diagnose machine, material, tension, rewinding, tooling, or quality problems
- Give practical technical advice to operators
- Coordinate tooling, stock, plates, cylinders, cores, and materials
- Keep production moving while maintaining quality and safety
- Make confident decisions in a fast-paced environment
- Communicate issues clearly and help improve the production process
- Lead by example on the production floor
At the higher senior/supervisor levels, candidates should be able to operate with significant independence, take real responsibility for production flow, and provide strong technical expertise.
The upper salary band is reserved for candidates who can demonstrate this level of competence.
What You’ll Be Doing Day-to-Day
Depending on your level, you will be involved in:
- Running or supporting label finishing machinery
- Preparing jobs for production
- Setting cores, materials, tooling, and machine components
- Supporting setups and changeovers
- Monitoring quality throughout production runs
- Checking register, die pressure, rewinding, tension, and consistency
- Fixing web breaks and basic production issues
- Loading paper and materials safely
- Reading job bags and understanding production instructions
- Maintaining a clean, safe, organised working area
- Supporting other team members when needed
More experienced candidates may also be involved in:
- Overseeing production lines
- Supporting operators with technical problems
- Making mechanical adjustments
- Giving feedback on press performance and job suitability
- Helping improve production flow and efficiency
- Training or guiding less experienced staff
What We’re Looking For
We are interested in people who are:
- Mechanically minded
- Practical and hands-on
- Comfortable working with machinery
- Reliable and disciplined
- Calm under pressure
- Willing to learn and improve
- Able to follow instructions carefully
- Comfortable with physical work
- Focused on quality and detail
- Able to work as part of a team
- Willing to help others when required
For senior or supervisor-level appointments, we are also looking for:
- Strong machine experience
- Good mechanical judgement
- Confidence making decisions
- Ability to support and guide operators
- Experience solving production issues
- Ability to work independently for extended periods
- Strong understanding of quality, materials, and production flow
- A positive, lead-from-the-front attitude
Experience
Experience in any of the following areas would be useful:
- Label manufacturing
- Print finishing
- Machine operation
- Production or manufacturing
- Engineering or mechanical work
- Rewinding, slitting, inspection, or finishing machinery
- Supervising or supporting production teams
Previous label or print experience is strongly preferred for senior and supervisor-level roles, but we may consider less experienced candidates for development-level positions if they have the right attitude and mechanical aptitude.
Requirements
- Experience working with machinery or in a production environment preferred
- Strong practical or mechanical aptitude
- Ability to work weekly rotating shifts
- Physically fit, with lifting and standing required
- Good communication skills
- Reliable commute to WS9 8BZ
- English required
- Willingness to work hands-on on the production floor
Benefits
- Bonus scheme
- Full uniform provided
- 20 days holiday, increasing to 25
- Extensive training
- Genuine progression route
- Supportive team environment
- Clean, modern factory
- Free on-site parking
Work Location
This role is based on-site at WS9 8BZ.
Applicants must be able to commute reliably or relocate before starting work.
Summary
This advert covers a range of production roles, from developing Machine Operator through to Senior Operator and Machine Supervisor.
The exact role level and salary offered will depend on your experience, skill, independence, mechanical ability, leadership potential, and ability to add value on the production floor.
We are especially interested in candidates who can grow into senior responsibility, or who already have the experience to operate at supervisor level.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £27,560.00-£37,120.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Canteen
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Profit sharing
Work Location: In person
