About the Role
Drayne's Dairy Farm is an award-winning family dairy business producing and supplying premium dairy products and ice cream throughout Ireland.
We are looking for a hardworking and reliable Ice Cream Production Operative to join our growing production team. The successful candidate will be responsible for manufacturing, filling, packing and preparing high-quality ice cream products while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality and hygiene.
Working in a modern production facility, you will operate a range of automated equipment, including our collaborative robot (cobot), helping to improve efficiency, consistency and product quality.
Key Responsibilities
- Manufacture ice cream in accordance with production schedules.
- Operate continuous freezers, filling equipment and associated production machinery.
- Operate and monitor the collaborative robot (cobot) used within the production process, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
- Carry out basic cobot changeovers and routine checks, escalating faults where required.
- Prepare ingredients and accurately weigh recipes.
- Fill, label and pack finished products.
- Carry out product changeovers and line set-up.
- Complete production paperwork accurately.
- Perform in-process quality checks to ensure products meet specification.
- Maintain excellent housekeeping standards.
- Carry out cleaning and sanitation (CIP and manual cleaning) to company standards.
- Ensure all products meet customer specifications.
- Rotate stock using FIFO principles.
- Move ingredients and finished products using pallet trucks and lifting equipment.
- Assist with stock counts and inventory control.
- Work closely with Production, Engineering and Quality teams to maximise equipment performance and minimise downtime.
- Follow all Health & Safety, Food Safety and Quality procedures.
Essential Requirements
- Good level of physical fitness.
- Ability to work in chilled production environments.
- Good mechanical aptitude and confidence using automated equipment.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Good communication skills.
- Reliable with excellent timekeeping.
- Positive attitude and willingness to learn new technologies.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
Desirable Experience
- Previous experience within food manufacturing.
- Experience operating automated production machinery.
- Experience working with robotic or cobot systems (training will be provided).
- Experience within dairy or ice cream manufacturing.
- Understanding of HACCP and food hygiene.
- Forklift licence (advantage but not essential).
Personal Qualities
We are looking for someone who is:
- Reliable and dependable
- Hardworking
- Quality focused
- Organised
- Safety conscious
- Adaptable and keen to embrace new technology
- A strong team player
- Motivated to continuously improve processes
Working Conditions
The role involves:
- Standing for extended periods.
- Manual handling.
- Working in chilled production areas.
- Early starts and occasional overtime during busy periods.
- Wearing appropriate PPE at all times.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Full training on all production equipment, including collaborative robotic systems
- Career progression opportunities
- Staff discount on Draynes Farm products
- Free on-site parking
- Additional annual leave based on length of service
- Opportunity to work with modern automated food manufacturing technology in a growing family business
Why Join Drayne's Dairy Farm?
At Draynes Farm, we continue to invest in the latest dairy and ice cream manufacturing technology. You'll work with state-of-the-art production equipment, including automated filling systems and collaborative robotics, while helping produce award-winning ice cream enjoyed across Northern Ireland and beyond.
Pay: Up to £13.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
