Central Despatch Operative & Management Support Cover

Avara Foods; Hereford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Guaranteed hours

Overtime opportunities

Staff canteen

Staff shop

Cycle to work

Refer a friend bonus

Job summary

Avara Foods Limited is seeking a Central Despatch Operative with management support cover at the Hereford site. The role includes ensuring smooth product movement, readiness for outload and occasional Team Leader coverage with enhanced pay.

You will work shifts from 07:00–19:00 and 19:00–07:00, 3 on 2 off, tallying 38.5 hours per week and earning base rates with a shift allowance. This is a hands-on, safety-forward role in a high-volume site.

Qualifications

• Good level of numeracy and clear communication are essential.
• Strong organisation and time management help manage priorities during busy shifts.
• Basic manual handling and food hygiene knowledge are desirable.
• A forklift licence is desirable and helps with duties.
• Able to coordinate colleagues when covering the Team Leader.

Responsibilities

• Assist with goods, including scanning and storing products and raw materials.
• Wrap, scan and palletise products.
• Issue products to production teams in line with production plans.
• Perform manual handling, including lifting up to 23kg.
• Load and unload vehicles using manual handling equipment.
• Follow training, food safety and health and safety guidance.

Skills

Numeracy

Communication

Organisation

Time management

Manual Handling

Food Hygiene

Forklift licence

Job description

About the Role

Central Despatch Operative with Management Support Cover

Do you want to earn a minimum of £553 per week?

We are recruiting for our Central Despatch team at Yazor, Hereford.

As a Central Despatch Operative, you will help ensure the smooth movement of products from our production lines, making sure products are available and ready for outload.

This is primarily a Central Despatch Operative role, with opportunities to provide Management Support by covering for the Team Leader when required. When carrying out Team Leader cover, you will receive the higher Management Support rate of pay.

What’s in it for you

• £13.15 per hour + £1.23 shift allowance
• £16.56 per hour + £1.23 shift allowance when covering for the Team Leader
• Earn £250 for every friend or family member you refer for a job with us*
• Secure contract with guaranteed hours and opportunities for overtime
• Earn a minimum of £553 per week
• Subsidised staff canteen serving hot food
• Staff shop/staff sales at hugely discounted prices
• Cycle to work scheme

*Ts & Cs apply.

Working hours

07:00-19:00 / 19:00-07:00, 3 on 2 off

38.5h per week

About the role

As a Central Despatch Operative, your key responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with goods, including scanning and storing products and raw materials.
• Wrapping, scanning and palletising products.
• Issuing products to production teams in line with production plans.
• Manual handling, including lifting equipment and products up to 23kg.
• Loading and unloading vehicles using manual handling equipment.
• Carrying out all duties in line with training, food safety and health and safety guidance.

When covering for the Team Leader

When providing Management Support, you will take on additional responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the day-to-day running of the Central Despatch area.
• Coordinating the team and helping to allocate daily tasks and priorities.
• Monitoring workload and responding to changes or operational issues.
• Supporting colleagues and providing guidance when required.
• Communicating with production and other departments to maintain a smooth workflow.
• Escalating operational, staffing, quality or safety concerns when required.
• Ensuring food safety, health and safety, quality and site procedures are followed.
• Completing relevant checks, paperwork and system updates.
• Supporting shift handovers and communicating key information to the Team Leader or management team.

What do I need to be successful?

• Good level of numeracy and communication.
• Good organisation and time management skills.
• Basic Manual Handling and Food Hygiene knowledge is desirable.
• Forklift licence is desirable.
• Confident supporting and coordinating colleagues when covering for the Team Leader.
• Able to communicate clearly, prioritise workloads and respond to issues when they arise.

Who are we, and what do we do?

You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants.

We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door, meaning we have careers covering a wide range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

A little about our Hereford site

The Hereford plant is our largest site and processes chicken products across two factory facilities, Grandstand Road and Yazor Road. Grandstand handles processing, whole bird production and portioning, while Yazor is responsible for portioning and added value.

Across the whole site, approximately 1,500 people are employed, and it processes 1.9 million birds per week.

What happens after you apply?

After you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted in due course by a Resourcing Officer from our Hereford site to discuss your application and CV further. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the role.

If you’re ready to work in a dynamic environment alongside talented people who take pride in delivering great results,

Due to Bird Welfare, it is essential that you do not own any Avian Pets or Poultry.

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

INDHP #TheAvaraWay