Butchery Assistant |Meat Processing

Service Foods; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for growth

Work for a well-established NZ company

Job summary

Service Foods in Waikato is seeking a reliable Butchery Assistant for our Night Shift Meat Processing Team. You will help process, pack, weigh and label meat products while maintaining food safety and quality standards.

In a fast-paced production setting you will read labels, operate scales, and support daily production targets with attention to safety and hygiene. This full-time, permanent role suits someone with experience in meat processing or manufacturing, who is physically fit and able to

Qualifications

• Previous experience in food processing, butchery, meat processing, or similar manufacturing preferred.
• Physically fit and able to perform repetitive tasks and manual handling.
• Comfortable working in a cold environment and standing for long periods.
• Able to lift, carry, push, and pull products safely.
• Good hand dexterity and coordination when handling and packing products.
• Ability to read labels, dates, product specifications, and record product weights using weighing equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Able to follow instructions and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Process, pack, weigh, and label meat products accurately and efficiently.
• Read and verify product labels, specifications, dates, weights, and batch information.
• Operate weighing scales, vacuum packing machines, and other processing equipment.
• Record weights and production information accurately and legibly.
• Prepare and organise customer orders according to specifications.
• Conduct quality checks to ensure products meet food safety and customer requirements.
• Validate shelf-life, regulatory limits, and packaging standards.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, cleanliness, and housekeeping within the processing area.
• Follow all health and safety procedures and food safety requirements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Work collaboratively with team members to meet daily production targets.

Skills

English communication

Physical fitness

Attention to detail

Team player

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

At Service Foods, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service and premium products to New Zealand's foodservice and hospitality industry.

We are currently seeking a reliable and hardworking Butchery Assistant to join our Night Shift Meat Processing Team in Waikato.

Position Snapshot

• Shift: Sunday to Friday, 3:30pm to 12:00am
• Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

About the Role

As a Butchery Assistant, you will play a key role in processing, packing, weighing, and labelling meat products while ensuring food safety, quality, and hygiene standards are maintained. Working in a fast-paced production environment, you will help prepare customer orders, operate processing equipment, and contribute to an efficient and safe workplace.

Key Responsibilities

• Process, pack, weigh, and label meat products accurately and efficiently.
• Read and verify product labels, specifications, dates, weights, and batch information.
• Operate weighing scales, vacuum packing machines, and other processing equipment.
• Record weights and production information accurately and legibly.
• Prepare and organise customer orders according to specifications.
• Conduct quality checks to ensure products meet food safety and customer requirements.
• Validate shelf-life, regulatory limits, and packaging standards.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, cleanliness, and housekeeping within the processing area.
• Follow all health and safety procedures and food safety requirements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Work collaboratively with team members to meet daily production targets.

What We're Looking For

• Previous experience in food processing, butchery, meat processing, or a similar manufacturing environment preferred.
• Physically fit and able to perform repetitive tasks, repetitive hand movements, and regular manual handling.
• Comfortable working in a cold/chilled environment and standing for long periods throughout the shift.
• Able to lift, carry, push, and pull products safely.
• Good hand dexterity and coordination when handling and packing products.
• Ability to accurately read labels, dates, product specifications, and record product weights using weighing equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Able to follow instructions and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Reliable, team-oriented, and committed to maintaining high health and safety standards.
• Good written and verbal English communication and numeracy skills.

Why Join Service Foods?

• Supportive team environment.
• Opportunities for growth and development.
• Work for a well-established and growing New Zealand business.

Eligibility & Pre-employment Checks

To be considered, you must be aNZ citizen, permanent resident , or have the legal right to work in New Zealand.
Successful candidates will undergo pre-employment checks including:

• Employment references
• Ministry of Justice and ACC verifications
• Alcohol and drug testing by an accredited provider