Food Production Operative – GrowUp Farms Full Time

As a Food Production Operative you won’t be stuck doing the same thing every day. You’ll be working across the farm, from seeding to packing and involved in all the production steps in between. You’ll get the chance to develop a broad range of skills applicable to vertical farming and food production

You will be responsible for the growing and manufacturing of food products according to the production plan and escalating any non-conformance or concerns to your manager.

Typical daily duties will include:

• Seeding crop using automated machinery
• Weighing and mixing ingredients and packing products using automated machinery
• Ensuring quality standards for all products are met and raising any concerns
• Maintaining a constant focus on excellent food safety, quality, and hygiene standards
• Ensuring a quality-driven and efficient approach
• Ensuring accurate recording for traceability and performing quality checks
• Completing all necessary paperwork associated with the role in a timely and accurate manner
• Reporting any issues or breakdowns to the Grower Manager or Engineering Manager
• Identifying potential areas for improvement in production methods and processes
• Carrying out machinery start-up checks and reporting anomalies/issues
• Ensuring safe use of facilities and equipment, while also ensuring a safe working environment
• Operating a forklift truck if needed and loading lorries
• Organising production processes to maximise efficiency and meet targets
• Communicating and working effectively with colleagues across the business

Health and Safety and Food Safety

• Meet all personal and role responsibilities as required under the company health and safety at work policy and HACCP
• Work in a safe manner to eliminate personal risk and risk to others
• Work as a role model when conducting your duties
• Support and promote an active Food and Safety Culture
• Address or report any hazard observed immediately, health or food related
• Ensure correct PPE is always worn by the team
• Maintain personal hygiene to a high standard
• Immediately investigate & report any workplace incidents

Requirements

• English both written & verbal
• Basic numeracy
• Food manufacturing experience or farming experience preferably
• Warm, engaging and motivated team player
• Excellent eye for detail and precision
• Problem solver
• Passion about quality products and willing to learn
• Energy, drive, and high achievement focus
• Knowledge or qualifications in Food Hygiene and Food Safety requirements is highly desirable
• Forklift licence is a great advantage

Benefits

Package

• Competitive salary
• Full time role
• Hours/shift pattern: 4 on/3 off OR 2 on/4 off/4 on/2 off – 40 hours per week
• Role is based at the farm near Sandwich
• There is also the opportunity to progress as site capacity increases, therefore your salary can increase with the scale of the enterprise and increased responsibility

Benefits

• 25 days holiday
• Parental Leave (3 months full pay, with flexible options for additional leave up to 1 year)
• Pension scheme (5% employer contribution)
• Employee share scheme
• Free parking and EV charging
• Free snacks and fruit at work
• State-of-the-art facility: good working environment and space for rest breaks
• “Vitality at Work” health scheme, including:
  • GP consultations
  • Up to 40% discount gym membership
• Benefits platform, including:
  • Cycle-to-work scheme
  • Retail discount scheme
  • Employee Assistance programme
  • Tax free childcare vouchers
• Income protection scheme
• Team entertainment (regular events, offsites, etc)

What’s in it for you?

• Be part of a great business – you will be joining one of the fastest growing and most exciting businesses in the vertical farming industry
• Be part of a great team – you will work with and learn from a friendly, smart, growing, and passionate team who care about each other and the business
• Grow yourself – a chance to develop yourself and make the role your own as the business and team builds, broadening your knowledge and capabilities to push you to the next level
• Share our passion for driving change for good – sustainable production is at the heart of what we do and we’re on the journey to B Corp certification