Packaging Operator

The Oval Partnership; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oval Partnership in Bedford is seeking a Packaging Operator to join our beverage manufacturing site on a full-time permanent basis. You will operate automated packaging lines, handle forklift tasks, and work across canning, kegging, and palletising processes in a busy beverage production environment.

You will monitor quality, record production data, maintain hygiene and safety standards, and collaborate with Engineering and Laboratory teams.

Qualifications

• FLT licence is required.
• Experience operating production or packaging machinery is beneficial.
• Forklift truck operation experience preferred.
• FMCG or food/beverage packaging experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor automated packaging machinery.
• Work across canning, bottling and kegging lines from start-up to shutdown.
• Operate palletisers, depalletisers, robots and automated equipment.
• Supply production lines with materials to maintain efficiency.
• Load/unload inbound/outbound vehicles and ensure safety.
• Carry out product and packaging quality checks and record data.
• Identify and report machinery or process issues.
• Support routine cleaning, hygiene and basic equipment maintenance.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Laboratory and other teams.

Skills

FLT licence

Forklift operation

Attention to safety

Teamwork

Problem solving

Tools

SAP

Warehouse systems

Barcode scanning

Job description

Packaging Operator

Location: Bedford

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Shift Pattern

The shifts are on a rotating pattern, Monday to Friday:

• 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Week 1)
• 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Week 2)
• 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m. (Week 3)

The Opportunity

We are looking for experienced and motivated Packaging Operators to join the operations team at a large, well-established beverage manufacturing site in Bedford.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience in a manufacturing, production, packaging or FMCG environment who enjoys working as part of a busy operational team.

You’ll be working with modern, automated packaging equipment and will play an important role in ensuring products are packaged safely, efficiently and to consistently high quality standards.

The role combines production line operation, machinery, forklift operations, quality control and general logistics, so we’re looking for people who are practical, safety-conscientious and comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Packaging Operator, you’ll help ensure packaging lines and associated operations run safely and efficiently.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Operating and monitoring automated packaging machinery.
• Working across canning and kegging production lines, from start-up through to shutdown.
• Operating palletisers, depalletisers, robots and associated automated equipment.
• Supplying production lines with the materials required to maintain efficient production.
• Operating forklift and clamp trucks safely within the production and warehouse environment.
• Loading and unloading inbound and outbound vehicles.
• Carrying out product and packaging quality checks.
• Monitoring and recording key production and process information.
• Completing production records and system transactions accurately.
• Identifying and reporting machinery, quality or process issues.
• Supporting routine cleaning, hygiene and basic equipment maintenance.
• Working closely with Engineering, Laboratory and other operational teams.
• Maintaining excellent standards of housekeeping, food safety and health & safety.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is reliable, flexible and keen to learn, with a positive approach to working as part of a production team.

Ideally, you’ll have previous experience within a factory, manufacturing, FMCG, food, beverage or packaging environment.

Experience in some of the following would be particularly beneficial:

1. Operating production or packaging machinery.
2. Canning, bottling or kegging lines.
3. Forklift truck operation.
4. Clamp/"top hat" truck operation.
5. Loading and unloading trailers.
6. Working within food or beverage manufacturing.
7. Health & Safety, Food Safety and HACCP procedures.
8. SAP or similar manufacturing/warehouse systems.
9. CIP (Clean-in-Place) processes.
10. Recording production and quality information electronically.

A valid FLT licence is required for the role, and additional qualifications such as a Shunter licence or MEWP training would be advantageous.

About You

You’ll be someone who takes pride in doing the job properly and understands the importance of safety and quality within a manufacturing environment.

You’ll need to be:

• Safety and quality focused.
• Reliable and punctual.
• Comfortable working within a fast-paced production environment.
• Able to organise and prioritise your workload.
• Confident using computers and completing production documentation.
• A good problem solver who remains calm under pressure.
• Happy working as part of a team.
• Flexible and comfortable working different shift patterns, including weekends.

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity to join a major beverage manufacturing operation and work within a modern production environment.

You’ll receive ongoing training and development and have the opportunity to broaden your technical skills across packaging, production, logistics and quality operations.

If you have experience within manufacturing, production, packaging, warehousing or FMCG and are looking for your next opportunity, we’d be very interested in hearing from you.