General Dairy Operative - Intake & Processing

Lakeland Dairies is hiring at its Ballyrashane site for multiple Process & Intake Operator roles. The co‑operative is one of the island’s largest dairy processors, drawing milk from more than 3,200 family farms across 16 counties to support billions of litres of production every year. The vacancies are onsite and full-time, based at Ballyrashane, and they suit people who like hands-on dairy production work and care about safety, quality and teamwork.

As an Intake & Processing Operator, you’ll help hit production targets and satisfy customer demand on time and in full, while following the company’s food safety culture and strict quality and health & safety standards. You’ll be part of a site that relies on accurate records and real‑time data to support traceability, with opportunities to learn and grow in a busy dairy environment.

Today’s work in intake and processing at Ballyrashane

In this role you’ll contribute across production departments, following the appropriate work instructions and cleaning routines, while keeping the area clean and orderly with a “clean as you go” approach. You’ll record production data in real time to maintain traceability, and you’ll support HACCP controls where applicable to ensure product safety and quality. Collaboration with other functions on site is important, and you’ll escalate issues to a supervisor when needed. The role also involves supporting accident investigations and contributing to a programme aimed at zero harm, while staying aligned with company policies and pursuing development through relevant learning activities.

Must-have requirements

Here’s what you’ll need to bring to succeed in this role.

• Solid literacy and numeracy with the ability to work with computers to log and read data tied to production records.
• An ability to think on your feet and act with minimal supervision to resolve problems as they come up.
• Comfort with manual lifting as part of daily duties.
• Experience in a production or manufacturing setting is helpful, and knowledge of food safety is advantageous.
• A clear eye for following HACCP procedures and keeping real-time records to support traceability and quality.

Nice-to-haves include prior exposure to food safety practices in a production setting and direct experience in dairy manufacturing or a related environment.

Pay, practical details and what to expect

The role is full-time and onsite at the Ballyrashane site in BT52 2NE. It involves hard work in a busy production environment, including manual lifting and completing production and cleaning records while upholding quality standards. The company supports learning and development activities to help you grow in the role, and it is committed to equality and creating a diverse workplace. If you need accommodations during the recruitment process, you can reach out for arrangements at [email protected].

Tips to stand out for this intake role

Lead your CV with examples that show your numeracy, literacy and computer skills, plus any experience recording data or completing production logs. If you have HACCP training or food safety knowledge, mention where you applied it and what outcomes you helped achieve.

Demonstrate your must-have skills with concrete stories from past roles: describe a time you used initiative to solve a problem on the line, or how you kept traceability intact when things got busy. Highlight any involvement in safety programs or accident investigations.

Be ready to talk about how you keep records in real time and how you would handle spillages or other safety incidents, linking your answer to the company’s zero harm objective and policy compliance.

When you’re thinking of questions to ask, focus on data and safety: ask which system the site uses for real-time production records and traceability, and what training or development opportunities are available to grow in intake and processing roles.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please send a copy of your CV by no later that Monday 2nd November 2026.

The company is committed to equality and building a diverse organisation that reflects its customers and stakeholders. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].

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