Extrusion Technician

About Us

New Zealand is renowned across the globe as one of the purest and natural places on Earth – It’s clean, green, and simply beautiful, and King Country is possibly the jewel in that crown.  A fertile and naturally abundant land of rolling hills, ambling rivers and lush vegetation, perfect for cultivation of quality crops and livestock.  Almost a quarter of the local community is directly involved in Agriculture of some kind, including significant free range Sheep and Beef farms.

King Country Pet Food is based near Taumarunui at the centre of this historic region, set near the banks of the beautiful Whanganui river.  Our core values include having a strong, respectful connection to the local community, and we take pride in calling King Country our home.

As an addition to New Zealand’s pet foods’ growing popularity amongst pet lovers the world over, we have a state-of-the-art plant and facilities, sourcing the finest ingredients to produce products to rival the best in the world.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Extrusion Technician to join our team at King Country Pet Food.

Reporting to the Shift Manager and Extrusion Supervisor, this is a hands-on role supporting day-to-day production across extrusion, milling, and coating. You will be part of a high-performing team focused on producing consistent, high-quality products in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Experience in food processing or extrusion is preferred. However, we are more interested in people who have the right attitude and aptitude, are reliable, willing to learn, and keen to be part of a strong and growing team. Full training will be provided.

Full time position, 40-hour week, with some occasional overtime and flexibility required (including around shift rostering in the future).

Note:  All applicants must meet the job criteria and be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or hold a valid New Zealand work visa.

Key Role Responsibilities

·         Follow all safety procedures and contribute to a safe working environment

·         Learn and follow site SOPs, food safety, and quality standards

·         Support the setup and operation of extrusion, milling, and coating processes

·         Assist with preparing production lines for start-up and shutdown

·         Monitor equipment, document and report issues early

·         Carry out product quality checks

·         Work alongside experienced operators to learn process control

·         Support batching, material handling, and silo management

·         Complete production paperwork accurately

·         Maintain cleaning and hygiene standards in line with MPI requirements

·         Assist with basic maintenance tasks

·         Communicate clearly with the team and supervisors

·         Support team performance and help minimise downtime

Key Skills / Required Experience

·         Experience in manufacturing or the food industry (preferred)

·         Extrusion experience preferred and/or a Mechanical aptitude

·         Willingness to learn and take direction

·         Ability to follow structured processes

·         Good attention to detail

·         Strong communication and teamwork skills

·         Ability to stay calm under pressure

·         Reliable, trustworthy, and punctual

·         Physically fit (able to lift up to 25 kg)

·         Resilient, with the ability to stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude despite setbacks

What We Offer

·         Full training provided

·         Supportive team environment

·         Opportunity for growth

·         Full-time roles (40 hours per week)

·         Overtime opportunities and future shift flexibility

·         On site parking

What's on our doorstep?

Mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes!  We encourage work life balance and are fortunate to have many outdoor activities nearby - skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, tramping, hunting, fishing, kayaking, rafting, boating, golf etc.

If you are looking for a change of pace and would embrace small town country / rural living, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a team who have come together to form a truly successful NZ Petfood business.

To learn more about our business please visit our website:  www.kingcountrypetfood.com

All applicants must meet the job criteria and be a NZ citizen, resident, or hold a valid NZ work visa.

To apply for this job, please click on ‘apply now’.