Process Operator role with 40% Control Room, 60% Hands-on Refinery Operations in a supportive, loyal team and strong company culture.
23rd December, 2025
The Role Our client is one of New Zealand’s leading food manufacturers, producing a wide range of high-quality edible oils, fats, spreads, and specialty products from their Bay of Plenty plant. Due to continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Process Operator to join their refinery team. This role involves 40% Control Room operation and 60% hands-on refinery work, processing bulk raw/crude oils through a large-scale industrial refining process to produce finished edible products. Key responsibilities include:
Processing bulk raw/crude oil through the refinery to produce edible oils, fats, and spreads.
Assisting with refining, bleaching, neutralisation, degumming, and deodorisation processes.
Operating, monitoring, and adjusting PLC/HMI-controlled refinery systems.
Operating pumps, valves, steam systems, and heat exchangers.
Handling and transferring raw and refined oils safely.
Completing in-process quality, compliance, and production checks with accurate data recording.
Performing cleaning, hygiene, and basic equipment maintenance.
Supporting continuous improvement, troubleshooting, and strict safety and environmental standards.
Working collaboratively to meet production and quality targets.
About You We are looking for candidates with 3–5 years’ experience in an industrial manufacturing or processing environment. You will ideally bring:
3–5 years’ experience operating PLC/HMI systems in an industrial process environment.
3–5 years’ hands-on experience with pumps, valves, steam, and heat exchangers.
Background in relevant industries such as heavy manufacturing, dairy, milling, or chemicals.
Strong safety awareness and attention to detail.
Good physical fitness for manual handling and cleaning tasks.