Technical Operator - Nights

Yeo Valley Farms (Production) Ltd; South Somerset; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK yogurt producer in South Somerset is seeking a Technical Operator to join their night shift team. The role involves operating and optimising complex machines, ensuring product quality, and supporting team members in a fast-paced environment. Essential skills include teamwork and effective communication, with relevant production experience required. Competitive benefits include a non-contributory pension scheme and learning opportunities. Immediate applications are encouraged.

Benefits

Competitive holiday allowance

Non-contributory pension scheme

Healthcare cash back plan

Cycle to work scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Relevant work experience as a machine operator in a production environment.
• Able to undertake manual tasks.

Responsibilities

• Operate and optimise complex machines or processing equipment.
• Demonstrate commitment to Health & Safety.
• Ensure adherence to good manufacturing practices.

Skills

Team working

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Job description

So, what will I be doing?

Are you technically minded and looking to grow your career in food production? We are looking for a Technical Operator working on the night shift to join our friendly and fast‑paced team at our Crewkerne site.

As a Technical Operator you will be an important part of a team supporting the production at Crewkerne. You will operate and optimise complex machines or processing equipment, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of product quality. Utilising your operational and mechanical skills and knowledge, you will be the go‑to person for all in the team that need support with complex operational processes, optimising machines or identifying root causes of underlying problems.

Through the undertaking of maintenance tasks, validation checks and optimisation of the machines you will ensure the team can meet their daily Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with optimal utilisation of our assets and raw materials.

This role will be on a 4‑on 4‑off shift pattern, working 18:00‑06:00.

Key responsibilities:

• Demonstrating a commitment to Health & Safety by working in a safe manner, role‑modeling safety behaviours, challenging unsafe practices, rectifying unsafe conditions and escalating to other team members when support is needed.
• Active involvement, commitment and governance of the quality management system, ensuring all relevant controls and procedures are completed effectively to validate food safety controls and that the products we make exceed customer and consumer expectations.
• Understanding, adhering to and leading good manufacturing practices and company standards of hygiene, PPE and dress code. Role‑modeling a "Clean as You Go" approach, leading workplace organisation and visual management standards with the team.
• Effective operation and optimisation of equipment and priorities to meet the production demand and delivery of the highest quality of products.
• Ensuring the accurate and timely recording of downtime and raw material usage in the area.
• Undertaking advanced/complex fault‑finding, decision making and rectification on equipment and leading the identification of root cause, escalating to engineering when required.
• Working across the team and ensuring there are effective handovers to understand common challenges and opportunities, seeking to identify where investigations may help most.
• Training and validating understanding to the highest standard, coaching and mentoring others to build capability.
• Energising the team and demonstrating a consistently enthusiastic approach, taking action quickly and encouraging others to do the same.

Sounds interesting, what do I need?

Essential:

• Good team working skills.
• Able to undertake manual tasks.
• Attention to detail.
• Effective communication.
• Relevant work experience as a machine operator in a production environment.

Desirable:

• Basic food hygiene.
• Knowledge of HACCP.
• Engineering skillset.

Why should I join the family?

We’re independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK’s major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1900 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK’s packaged yogurt.

We’re sure you don’t need convincing, but there’s a whole host of benefits that we offer including:

• Competitive holiday allowance
• Non‑contributory pension scheme
• Life cover
• Healthcare cash back plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Subsidised Yeo Valley products and services
• Preferential rates with our partners
• Learning and development opportunities; we’re committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow

Our closing dates are a guide for when the application window should close, although we may close the advert sooner if we can. So, we recommend you get your application in straight away – and don’t miss the opportunity to join us!

Unfortunately, we’re not able to provide employment sponsorship to candidates at this moment in time.

Please note that Yeo Valley do not accept speculative agency applications; we will only accept applications from preferred suppliers that have been submitted to us via our recruitment portal at the point of instruction.