Production Technician

Loop Recruitment; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Essantis is seeking a Production Technician / Miller to operate and monitor milling equipment at our Smeaton Mill site in Victoria. This hands-on role requires adapting to a 24/7 rotating shift roster, with a focus on safety, quality and efficiency in oat milling.

Ideal candidates come from food manufacturing or FMCG backgrounds, with a strong production process understanding and a willingness to learn new equipment quickly. Full Australian working rights and a forklift licence are advantageous.

Qualifications

• Experienced operator in medium to large manufacturing.
• Willing to work 24/7 rotating shifts.
• Ability to learn new milling processes.
• Strong safety and quality focus.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor automated milling and production equipment.
• Monitor production through PLC and SCADA systems and make adjustments as required.
• Monitor product flow, moisture, yield and production performance.
• Identify and respond to equipment and process issues to minimise downtime.
• Make adjustments to milling equipment to maintain production efficiency and product quality.
• Physically inspect equipment and assist with troubleshooting and fault finding.
• Work closely with the Maintenance team to repair and replace worn or defective equipment.
• Complete production records and provide accurate production information and reporting.
• Support other operators and team members to ensure equipment is operated correctly and efficiently.
• Follow all food safety, quality and safety requirements across the production environment.
• Work in accordance with SQF, HACCP and other relevant food safety and certification requirements.
• Maintain a clean, safe and efficient production area.
• Live our company values – Honesty, Accountability, Passion and Boldness.

Skills

Production Operator

Process Operator

Production Technician

High-volume manufacturing

Rotating shifts

Industrial equipment

Equipment monitoring

Safety focus

Communication skills

Learn new processes

Grain milling

Forklift licence

Driver's licence

Australian working rights

PC skills

PLC

SCADA

Tools

PLC

SCADA

PC skills

Job description

Our Client

Our client Essantis are passionate, inspired producers of Australian grown plant-based food and beverage ingredients. For over 40 years our customers have relied upon us to provide healthy, natural foods grown in Australia for those at home and for millions around the world. We're proud of our history, our success and our reputation, and we're hungry to grow, innovate and produce more of the foods people love to eat.

Role

Reporting to the Miller Team Leader and based at the Essantis Smeaton Mill in Victoria, the Production Technician / Miller will be responsible for operating, monitoring and adjusting the milling equipment to ensure safe, efficient and consistent production. This is a hands‑on production role working across a 24/7 rotating shift roster. Oat milling is a specialised skill set, so previous milling experience is not essential. We are looking for experienced production operators from food manufacturing, FMCG or similar environments who have a strong understanding of production processes and the ability to learn new equipment and processes quickly. You will look after the following:

• Operate and monitor automated milling and production equipment.
• Monitor production through PLC and SCADA systems and make adjustments as required.
• Monitor product flow, moisture, yield and production performance.
• Identify and respond to equipment and process issues to minimise downtime.
• Make adjustments to milling equipment to maintain production efficiency and product quality.
• Physically inspect equipment and assist with troubleshooting and fault finding.
• Work closely with the Maintenance team to repair and replace worn or defective equipment.
• Complete production records and provide accurate production information and reporting.
• Support other operators and team members to ensure equipment is operated correctly and efficiently.
• Follow all food safety, quality and safety requirements across the production environment.
• Work in accordance with SQF, HACCP and other relevant food safety and certification requirements.
• Maintain a clean, safe and efficient production area.
• Live our company values – Honesty, Accountability, Passion and Boldness.

Skills Required

Most importantly, we're looking for experienced production operators who are hands‑on, safety-conscious and keen to learn a specialised process. The ideal candidate will have come from a medium to large manufacturing environment, with experience working on production or packing lines in a food manufacturing, FMCG or similar environment.

• Previous experience as a Production Operator, Process Operator, Production Technician or similar.
• Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing or production environment.
• Previous experience working rotating shifts in a 24/7 production environment.
• Strong understanding of production processes and operating industrial equipment.
• Ability to monitor equipment performance and respond to issues quickly.
• Mechanically minded with a practical approach to problem solving.
• Good computer skills and the ability to learn site‑specific systems.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a shift team.
• A strong commitment to safety, quality and following procedures.
• Ability to learn new processes and technical information quickly.
• Experience in food manufacturing or FMCG is highly regarded.
• Experience in grain, flour, stockfeed or milling environments is desirable but not essential.
• Forklift licence is highly regarded.
• Current driver's licence and reliable transport.
• Full Australian working rights.
• Comfortable working in a dusty manufacturing environment and undertaking manual handling as required.