Packing Operator Protein Plant

As the Protein Packing Operator, you will play a key role in ensuring our protein products are packed, sampled and processed to the highest quality and food safety standards. Working as part of our Production team in Hokitika, you will operate packing lines, complete product sampling, maintain accurate traceability records, and help ensure plant equipment is running safely and efficiently. You'll also contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and support the training and development of team members where required. Reporting directly to the Supervisor and ultimately the Production Manager, you will work alongside Operations, Quality, Laboratory, Maintenance and Production teams to help deliver world‑class dairy products to customers around the globe. This is a hands‑on role offering the opportunity to build your technical skills and grow your career within a supportive manufacturing environment. A bit about you You are a proactive and safety‑conscious team player with proven experience working in a manufacturing, dairy, food processing or similar production environment. You enjoy working with automated plant and equipment, have strong attention to detail, and take pride in maintaining high standards of quality, hygiene and traceability. You can quickly learn new processes, communicate effectively with others, and thrive in an environment where teamwork and continuous improvement are highly valued. You bring a practical approach to problem‑solving, strong time management skills and a commitment to doing things the right way. Experience working within food safety and quality systems would be advantageous, along with a keen interest in developing your technical capability and building a long‑term career in manufacturing. A bit about the organisation Westland Milk Products is a well‑known New Zealand end‑to‑end dairy manufacturer based in the beautiful South Island with offices and production facilities based in both Christchurch and Hokitika. Our Production team plays a critical role in transforming high‑quality milk into premium dairy ingredients that are supplied to customers around the world. With a strong focus on quality, safety and innovation, our people are passionate about delivering products that meet the highest international standards. Owned by the Global Top 5 dairy company Yili Group, Westland Milk Products and its related companies in New Zealand, Oceania Dairy (Glenavy), Pure Nutrition (Rolleston), Canary Foods (Hamilton) and EasiYo (Auckland) form a group that we refer to as the Yili Oceania group. The combined business produces over 170,000 mt of finished goods which are then exported to over 40 countries, driving annual revenue well in excess of $1.3 B – and growing. Where to from here? We encourage you to apply even if you feel that you do not meet all of the above qualifications. No one ever meets 100% of the requirements. We look forward to your application! Please submit your application through our careers page at westlandcareers.co.nz . For further details, please refer to the accompanying position description available on the site. Applications close on 28th July 2026. Please note that this advertisement may close earlier than the listed closing date if a suitable candidate is identified. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be conducted earlier than the closing date. Applicants must have valid work rights in New Zealand to be considered. #J-18808-Ljbffr