About the Role

We are looking for a Production & Quality Operative to join our growing team.

This is a hands-on role combining practical production work with responsibility for maintaining the high food safety and quality standards required in a BRCGS-certified manufacturing environment.

Every member of our production team plays an active role in maintaining food safety, quality standards and BRCGS compliance.

This role is:

❌ Not a basic warehouse or pick-and-pack role
❌ Not a purely desk-based QA position
✅ A role for someone who wants to be on the production floor, involved, and accountable for quality.

As the business grows, there is genuine potential for this role to develop into a more dedicated technical / QA position for the right person who wishes to pursue that path.

This role is physically demanding.

You will be:

• On your feet for much of the day
• Lifting and moving materials regularly
• Working in a production environment where stamina, focus and consistency matter

If you are not comfortable with physical work as part of your role, this position will not be suitable.

Training & Onboarding

There is a significant amount of training at the start, particularly around:

• BRCGS systems and compliance
• Internal processes and verification procedures
• Production methods and standards

This requires focus, patience and attention to detail. It is not an “easy start”, but it is highly rewarding for the right person.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting the manufacturing of our Madagascan vanilla products, including bottling, pouch filling, labelling, packaging, milling & sieving.
• Picking, packing and preparing customer orders accurately and efficiently for dispatch.
• Maintaining exceptionally high hygiene, cleaning and housekeeping standards throughout the production area and premises.
• Supporting our commitment to food safety and quality, including environmental swabbing and microbiological product testing.
• Helping maintain our AA Grade BRCGS Food Safety certification standards.
• Working as part of a small team within a high-standard, regulated food manufacturing environment.
• Being flexible and willing to assist with a variety of tasks across production and operations
• Accuracy, traceability and attention to detail are essential in everything we do.
  

About You

Who This Role Is For

This role would suit someone who:

• Has experience in a BRCGS or SALSA-compliant food manufacturing environment.
• Enjoys combining hands-on production work with technical responsibility.
• Takes pride in accuracy, consistency and doing things properly.
• Communicates well and supports others in a small team.
• Wants responsibility and ownership, not just routine tasks.
• Thrives in a small, family-run business where their work genuinely matters.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in food production or other regulated manufacturing industries
• Strong IT skills (Excel and Word)
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Physically fit, reliable and hands-on.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Has a pull your sleeves up and muck in wherever necessary “can do” attitude towards work.

Desirable Qualifications (or Working Towards)

• HACCP Level 2
• Food Hygiene Level 2 (Manufacturing)

Equivalent experience will be considered.

Candidates from catering, brewing or other highly regulated production industries are also encouraged to apply.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• No weekend work or unsociable shift patterns
• Bank holidays off
• Company pension scheme
• Employee discount
• Onsite parking
• Health & Wellbeing Programme
• Ongoing training in Food Hygiene, HACCP and BRCGS compliance
• A supportive, close-knit family-run working environment
• The opportunity to play a key role in a respected, award-winning brand

Interested?

If you are practical, technically capable, detail-driven and motivated by producing high-quality food products, we would love to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV and a short cover note explaining why this role suits you.

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £14.00-£14.50 per hour
Expected hours: 37.5 per week
Monday – Friday 0830-1630

How to Apply

If you share the same belief that loved ones make memories through the love of baking and want to be part of the dream and become a part of those memories for generations to come then Apply now and become part of the Vanilla Etc family.

We may also consider applications where transferrable skills can be applied.

Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role to info@vanillaetc.com.