LEAD MACHINE OPERATIVE
Hours: Full time
Current Shifts: Mon–Fri: 5.30am-2pm/2pm-10.30pm (weekly rotation)
Job Role:
To operate production machinery safely and efficiently while providing technical support, coordination and guidance to colleagues on the line.
The Lead Machine Operative is a recognised point of expertise for the machine/line and plays a key role in ensuring production runs smoothly, downtime is minimised, and quality and safety standards are consistently met.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Operate machinery in line with production requirements, ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety standards are met
- Carry out all start-up, changeover, and shut-down checks in line with procedures
- Act as the lead operator for the machine/line, ensuring best practice is followed at all times
- Troubleshoot machine issues and support resolution of faults
- Escalate persistent or complex issues to the Team Leader or Engineering
Line Coordination
- Support the smooth running of the line by guiding and coordinating activities of operatives
- Ensure consistent product flow and minimise downtime
- Identify and address issues such as material shortages, delays, or inefficiencies
- Work closely with the Team Leader to maintain operational performance
Training & Coaching
- Support the onboarding and training of new starters on the machine
- Coach colleagues to ensure correct use of equipment, procedures, and standards
- Reinforce expected behaviours in Health & Safety, Food Safety, and quality
- Act as a role model for good practice and performance
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all product checks, label verification, and documentation are completed accurately
- Maintain adherence to SOPs, CCPs, and traceability requirements
- Identify and escalate any quality or food safety risks immediately
- Support audit-ready standards within the work area
Performance & Continuous Improvement
- Monitor machine performance, including output, efficiency, and downtime
- Identify opportunities to improve performance and reduce waste
- Support implementation of process improvements
- Provide feedback to the Team Leader on recurring issues or improvement opportunities
Health, Safety & Hygiene
- Follow all Health & Safety procedures and safe systems of work
- Ensure correct use of PPE at all times
- Maintain high standards of housekeeping and cleanliness
- Challenge unsafe behaviours and escalate concerns where required
Benefits:
Pay: £14.00/ hour
- Overtime is paid after 48 hours at time and a quarter
- Company overalls and PPE provided
- Weekly Pay
- Career Progression
- Free On-site Parking
- Company Pension Scheme
- Friendly Family run business
Who we are looking for:
- Good understanding of production processes and machinery
- Awareness of Health & Safety, Food Safety, and quality standards
- Understanding of production documentation and traceability requirements
Skills
- Strong technical ability to operate and troubleshoot machinery
- Good attention to detail and accuracy
- Effective problem-solving skills
- Ability to support and guide others on the line
- Good communication skills
Behavioural Attributes
- Takes ownership of own machine/area
- Proactive and solutions-focused
- Works collaboratively with others
- Maintains high standards of performance and compliance
- Positive attitude and willingness to support team members
Person Specification:
- Experience operating machinery in a production or manufacturing environment
- Experience supporting or training others
- Experience working in a fast-paced, shift-based environment
- Basic understanding of machine fault-finding
- Good decision making skills and ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work in a chilled environment
- Knowledge and experience of working to BRC standards within food manufacturing would be an advantage
- Ability to understand and communicate in English
The Company:
We are a family-run business supplying frozen fruit and frozen fruit blends to the global food sector, working with a wide range of customers across retail, foodservice, and manufacturing.
Over the past four years, the business has experienced significant growth, driven by strong customer partnerships and a commitment to quality and service. As part of this growth, we have recently relocated to a modern, purpose-built facility in Ledbury, providing a high-quality working environment and supporting our continued expansion.
At our core, we remain committed to our family business values, with a strong focus on teamwork, continuous improvement, and investing in our people to build a business that employees are proud to be part of.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £14.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Ledbury HR8 2JQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
