Machine Operator

Smurfit Westrock; Whitehaven; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & benefits

Ongoing training and development

24/7 confidential support

Flexible working options

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock operates at the Whitehaven site and is seeking two production operators to join the team. The role focuses on delivering excellent customer service and ensuring on-time deliveries while maintaining safety standards.

You will support seaming and labeling machines, drive efficiency, and participate in continuous improvement activities to reduce waste and improve production. A strong emphasis on health, safety and teamwork is required to succeed in this position.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to health and safety practices.
• Experience of working within a manufacturing environment is essential.
• Ability to meet tight production deadlines without compromising safety, quality or waste expectations.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Ability to identify and act upon process improvement opportunities.
• Experience of working with similar operating equipment would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring HSE best practices are followed throughout the department.
• Enabling the production of quality products from the seaming machines in a timely manner.
• Ensuring labelling machines are set and operated efficiently in line with SSOWs and best maintenance practices.
• Driving continuous improvement opportunities, including waste reduction and production efficiencies.

Skills

Technical interpretation

Lateral thinking

Manufacturing experience

Production equipment

Communication skills

Education

Mechanical bias

Health & Safety qualifications

Job description

Description & Requirements

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

Smurfit Westrock is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging, operating in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 59 paper mills. With the circular economy at the core of our business, we use renewable, recyclable and recycled materials to create sustainable packaging solutions. For home and beauty products, our paper-based consumer packaging solutions combine elevated form and reliable function to meet the needs of today’s brands and shoppers. Our team of over 100,000 professionals drives operations across 40 countries on 6 continents and Smurfit Westrock are proud to be included on TIME Magazine’s World’s Best Companies 2025 list for the second year running.

Our Consumer Packaging business in Europe supplies paper-based packaging, leaflets and labels for a wide variety of household names in industries such as food and beverage, healthcare, beauty and personal care, premium wines and spirits, and much, much more. With more than 5,500 colleagues across 10 countries and 34 operating locations, Smurfit Westrock's European Consumer Packaging operation is ideally positioned to provide innovative, sustainable packaging solutions to customers across the globe.

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 operators to join our team based at our Whitehaven site. This role will work effectively as part of the team to deliver excellent customer service and ensure ‘on time’ deliveries to our valued customers.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring HSE best practices are followed throughout the department.
• Enabling the production of quality products from the seaming machines in a timely manner
• Ensuring labelling machines are set and operated efficiently in line with SSOWs and best maintenance practices.
• Driving continuous improvement opportunities, including waste reduction and production efficiencies

Knowledge, Skills, Experience

• Demonstrated commitment to good health and safety practices.
• Experience of working within a manufacturing environment is essential.
• Demonstrated ability to work towards tight production deadlines without compromising safety, quality or waste expectations.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Ability to identify and act upon process improvement opportunities.
• Experience of working with similar operating equipment would be an advantage.

Qualifications

• Mechanically biased qualification an advantage
• Health and Safety qualifications an advantage

Skills

• Strong technical interpretation skills
• Ability to apply “lateral thinking.”
• Experience of working in the manufacturing industry is essential
• Previous experience of running production equipmentComputer literacy an advantage
• Good communication skills

What We Offer

• Competitive salary & benefits, including annual leave, pension, and a Cycle to Work scheme.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• 24/7 confidential support for you and your family
• Flexible working options and family-friendly policies

Smurfit Westrock reserve the right to only shortlist candidates who meet both the Essential and Desirable Criteria.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their sex; religious or similar philosophical belief; political opinion; race; age; sexual orientation; or, whether they are married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled; or whether they have undergone, are undergoing or intend to undergo gender reassignment.

We practice equality of opportunity in employment and select the best person for the job.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.