Process Operators

King Country Pet Food; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Mandatory training provided.

Family and pet friendly focus

Job summary

King Country Pet Food is recruiting for a Packing Team member at our Manawatu District facility. You’ll contribute to producing high-quality pet food, handling ingredients, packaging, and ensuring safety and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.

We value reliability, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn. Full training will be provided, with overtime opportunities and shift rostering flexibility.

Qualifications

• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Active listening and effective communication with team members.
• Hands-on, detail focused approach to production tasks.
• Enthusiastic can-do attitude and willingness to go the extra mile.
• Dedicated to providing outstanding customer service.
• Able to meet multiple deadlines and prioritise work via organisational skills.
• Basic food hygiene understanding or qualification.
• Workplace health & safety awareness.

Responsibilities

• Checking recipes and raw ingredients for product batches.
• Preparing dry and wet ingredients / batching.
• Mixing and processing ingredients.
• Loading and unloading trolleys for product drying.
• Packing / labeling products for shipment.
• Wrapping and palitising products for shipping.
• Ensuring food safety protocols are followed.
• Cleaning and maintaining hygiene to MPI standards.
• Completing paperwork and basic admin tasks.
• Adhering to Health, Safety and Environment policies.
• Participating in mandatory training.
• Assisting in other production areas as required.

Skills

Literacy skills

Active listening

Detail-oriented

Can-do attitude

Customer service

Organisational skills

Forklift licence

Microsoft Office

Food hygiene

Pet/meat industry experience

Education

Food safety qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Outlook

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.

King Country Pet Food – Manawatu District, North Island

King Country Pet Food is based near Taumarunui in the heart of the historic King Country region, on the banks of the beautiful Whanganui River. Our core values include maintaining strong and respectful connections with our local community, caring for the animals we produce food for, and taking pride in the quality of the products we create. We take great pride in calling King Country home.

As we continue to expand our commercial production operations, we are looking for motivated people to join our team. Working in our state-of-the-art facility, you will help produce high-quality pet food products using premium ingredients and advanced processing technology, contributing to a business that is proudly growing its presence in New Zealand and international markets.

The Role

We are currently looking for people to join our Packing Team, along with expressions of interest from those interested in future opportunities within our Meat Room, Extrusion, and Milling teams.

Reporting to the relevant Line Manager, Supervisor or Shift Manager, you will play an important role in our manufacturing operation, helping to produce high-quality pet food products in a safe, efficient, and quality-focused environment.

Depending on the area you work in, duties may include preparing meat and other wet or dry ingredients, weighing and batching recipes, operating processing and packaging equipment, loading and unloading trolleys, setting up production lines, packing and boxing finished products, palletising and wrapping, cleaning, and undertaking other general production tasks as required. A current forklift licence and proven operating experience would be advantageous.

Being physically fit and healthy, able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, think on your feet, and maintain a high attention to detail is essential due to the nature of our operation.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a team environment where initiative, reliability, and good communication skills are highly valued. You will have a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn and contribute to the ongoing success of our business.

Experience in food processing and/or a manufacturing environment is preferred. However, we are more interested in people who have the right attitude and aptitude, are reliable, willing to learn, and keen to be part of a strong and growing team. Full training will be provided.

We offer full-time employment opportunities, with flexibility required around shift rostering. Overtime opportunities may be available from time to time and will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Key Job / Role Responsibilities

Checking Recipes and the raw ingredients going into product.

Preparing dry and wet ingredients / batching.

Mixing and processing ingredients

Loading and uploading trolleys ready for product drying

Packing / Labeling product

Wrapping and palitising product ready for shipping

Ensure food safety protocols are followed.

Cleaning / Hygiene - Ensuring all areas and equipment are cleaned to MPI standards (pre-opp / post opp)

Basic administration duties (completing paperwork) as per your role requirements on a day-to-day basis.

Ensuring Health, Safety and Environment and Quality Management policies and procedures are adhered to.

Participating in mandatory training as and when required.

Support the business by identifying new opportunities.

Assist in other areas of production as may be required from time to time.

Key Skills and Experience:

Good literacy and numeracy skills

Active listening - ability to understand and respond effectively to other team members.

Hands-on, and detail focused

An enthusiastic can-do attitude and willingness to go the extra mile.

Dedicated to providing outstanding customer service

Able to meet multiple deadlines and priotise work through good organisational skills

Basic food hygiene understanding or qualification

Workplace Health & Safety awareness;

Experience in the pet food / meat industry

Experience in a food manufacturing role

Export Food Safety and Compliance knowledge

Health & Safety knowledge and awareness

Current forklift license and good operating skills, would be advantageous

Competent in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel and Word) and proficiency using a computer for various tasks;

Characteristics:

Customer / People-centric and a natural problem solver, with attention for detail;

A passionate high achiever

Prepared to challenge the status quo/boundaries and ability to drive constructive change.

Prepared to take ownership of problems and follow through on their resolution;

Is flexible and adaptable, anticipating and reporting problems, and happy to follow instruction to modify plans if required;

Prepared to deliver quality while managing time and resources;

Prepared to persevere and maintain energy and enthusiasm despite setbacks and continues to work towards set goals

Trustworthy and reliable.

What is in it for you?

Job security

Onsite parking

Mandatory training provided.

Family and pet friendly focus