Roast House Operator

Bairds Malt; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food manufacturing sector seeks a proactive individual to join their team at the Witham site. The role primarily involves operating roasting equipment and managing production processes. The right candidate will have a background in manufacturing and possess essential skills for quality control. A comprehensive benefits package is provided, making this opportunity rare and valuable.

Benefits

Health cash plan

Medical benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Paid holidays

Life insurance

Pension plan

Fitness subsidy

Loyalty awards

Cycle-to-work scheme

Discounts via Benefits Hub

Qualifications

• Ability to visually determine color differences.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Desirable: Ability to carry out minor repairs on plant machinery.

Responsibilities

• Operate equipment for the production of roasted products.
• Manage steeping and casting processes as required.
• Accurately record all production data and maintain cleanliness of the production areas.

Skills

Computer literacy

Self-motivated

Team-oriented mindset

Adaptable

Education

GCSEs (minimum grade C in English, Maths, and Science)

Malting qualification

Job description

About the Company

We have experienced rapid growth over the past 70 years. Our international presence began in the 1990s and has expanded over the decades. For nearly 10 years, we have been developing more sustainable supply chains to become a leader in agro-ecological transition. With 29 malting plants across 16 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and over 1,400 employees, we produce 2,400,000 tonnes of malt annually to meet the needs of our customers—including large breweries, craft brewers, distillers, and other industrial clients worldwide. Our strategic locations near main malting barley regions enable us to guarantee high-quality, sustainable malts capable of meeting demanding specifications, supporting a local and sustainable approach. Our production, sales, and logistics teams are dedicated to fulfilling our customers’ expectations for quality, reliability, and flexibility daily. Our strength lies in our production facilities' performance and the expertise of our teams, from supporting farmers to designing and producing increasingly sustainable malts that add value across the supply chain.

Position Scope

We seek a responsible, proactive individual to join our small team manufacturing roasted malts at the Witham site. The role involves shift work across seven days, operating food manufacturing machinery, updating paper records, inputting data into IT systems, cleaning duties, and working independently. The roast house is a critical part of our business, and opportunities to join are rare, making this an excellent opportunity for the right candidate. Current shifts are 4 days on, 2 days off: early shift from 6 am to 3 pm, late shift from 3 pm to midnight, alternating each week. Plans are to transition to a 4-on, 4-off schedule later this year, from 6 am to 6 pm, days and nights, alternating weekly. During training, the shift pattern is 4 days on, 4 days off, days only, with a transition to days and nights post-training.

Responsibilities

• Operate equipment for the production of roasted products, including filling machines, roasting drums, coolers, and storage facilities.
• Manage steeping and casting processes as required.
• Coordinate with barley and malting staff to ensure raw material availability.
• Run roasting drums to achieve specified color and quality standards.
• Transport products to final storage as instructed.
• Sample products and deliver samples promptly to the Malt lab.
• Report operational issues to engineering staff and assist in troubleshooting.
• Communicate with malting management regarding production anomalies and follow latest procedures.
• Maintain cleanliness of the roast house and production areas, including conveying equipment and inside roasting drums.
• Accurately record all production data on computers and in roasters' logs, including updating malt batch records.
• Perform greasing and routine maintenance of roasting machinery.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to visually determine color differences.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Computer literacy.
• Adaptable and flexible to changing schedules and tasks.
• Literate and numerate.
• Team-oriented mindset.

Education & Experience

• GCSEs (or equivalent) with a minimum of grade C in English, Maths, and Science.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Desirable: Malting qualification, ability to carry out minor repairs on plant machinery, experience in brewing, distilling, or malt industry.

Compensation

We offer a competitive package including health cash plan, medical benefits, Employee Assistance Program, paid holidays, life insurance, pension plan, fitness subsidy, loyalty awards, cycle-to-work scheme, and discounts via Benefits Hub. Benefits may vary across different UK sites including Burton, Inverness, Arbroath, Pencaitland, and Turriff.