Yard Operator - Timaru

McCain Foods; Timaru; On-site; NZD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

McCain Foods is seeking a reliable Yard Operator in Timaru to safely move materials across a busy site and support yard and warehouse activities. The role requires confident forklift operation, good communication, and the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

Reporting to the Coldstore Manager, you will coordinate truck movements, inventory, and waste management on a rotating 12-hour shift roster, and you will complete safety checks while upholding GMP and site procedures.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated forklift experience in warehousing or manufacturing.
• NZ Driver Licence and OSH Forklift Certificate.
• Strong communication and relationship-building across teams.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate forklifts in yard and warehouse, including large-capacity units.
• Receive, store, move and dispatch materials with inventory accuracy.
• Coordinate yard activities, truck movements and waste collection.
• Use inventory systems to manage stock movements and documentation.
• Liaise with multiple teams and external drivers to coordinate daily activities.
• Prioritise requests while focusing on safety and customer service.
• Conduct routine inspections, safety checks and GMP compliance.
• Escalate issues and support continuous improvement.

Skills

Forklift operation

Communication

Prioritisation

Independence

Safety awareness

Tools

SAP

WMS

Inventory systems

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.

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences —together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

We're looking for a reliable and proactive Yard Operator to join our team in Timaru.

As the sole Yard Operator on shift, you'll play a key role in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of materials across our busy manufacturing site. This is a hands-on role that requires confident forklift operation, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Reporting to the Coldstore Manager, you'll work closely with the Coldstore team, Inventory Administrator, Shift Manager and Supervisor, while also regularly liaising with Production, Maintenance, and external truck drivers to keep site operations running smoothly.

This role operates on a rotating 12-hour shift roster of 2 days (7:00am-7:00pm), 2 nights (7:00pm-7:00am), followed by 4 days off.

What you’ll be doing.

• Safely operate forklifts throughout the yard and warehouse, including larger-capacity forklifts and specialised attachments.
• Receive, store, move and dispatch materials across the site while maintaining inventory accuracy.
• Coordinate yard activities, including truck movements, waste and recycling collection, pallet management, and material movements.
• Use computer-based inventory systems to manage stock movements and related documentation.
• Communicate effectively with Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, Coldstore teams and external drivers to coordinate daily activities.
• Prioritise multiple operational requests while maintaining a strong focus on safety, efficiency and customer service.
• Conduct routine equipment inspections, complete safety checks, and contribute to a safe working environment.
• Maintain compliance with site procedures and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements.
• Proactively escalate issues and seek support when operational demands require additional assistance.
• Contribute to a clean, organised and compliant work environment, while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

What you'll need to be successful

• Demonstrated experience operating forklifts safely and confidently in a warehousing, logistics, manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Current New Zealand Driver Licence and OSH Forklift Certificate.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across multiple teams and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and confidently as the sole Yard Operator on shift.
• Proven ability to prioritise competing tasks and remain calm in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Basic computer literacy and confidence using inventory, warehouse or business systems.
• Ability to work the rotating 12-hour shift roster.
• Current unrestricted working rights in New Zealand.

Preferred

• Experience within a manufacturing, food production or FMCG environment.
• Experience using SAP, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) or inventory management systems.
• Familiarity with GMP requirements.

Recruitment process

Shortlisted candidates will be required to successfully complete a practical forklift skills assessment, along with pre-employment medical, drug screening and reference checks.

About McCain

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

We've got this covered! No external agency support required and unsolicited CVs will not be considered.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's

Job Family: Manufacturing

Location(s): NZ - New Zealand : Canterbury : Timaru