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Basic Operator

Gauteng, South Africa

Professional seated at a conference table with laptops and a presentation screen in a modern office setting
Job ID:
R-1178242
Date posted:
04/09/2026
Job Type:
Full time
Job Category:
Supply Chain

Job Details

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Unilever is currently hiring for a  Basic Operator

Function: Supply Chain

Reports to: Shift Coordinator

Scope: Local

Location: Khanyisa/Anderbolt Factory

Terms & Conditions: Full time

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

JOB PURPOSE

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world.

The Operator (Basic) is responsible for carrying out general line operations and cleaning regimes according to planned operational requirements in order to safely deliver a good quality packed product.  As a core member of the operations team the Operator (Basic) plays an important role in maintaining line safety and will identify process or line issues to leaders.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

  • Start-Up/Shutdown procedures - Carries out pre start-up checks to ensure that the area and equipment is clean and is in a safe condition as per the SOP.  Assists shutting down equipment and the area as per the SOP.

  • Cleaning –Performs initial inspection and cleaning as per SOPs.  Will alert team leaders to potential sources of contamination and dirt identified in inaccessible places.

  • Material Availability - Provides a continuous supply of appropriate packaging material from storage areas to demarcated storage areas as per existing 5S standards. 

  • Quality - Monitors quality against set standards and reports any product and packaging faults.  Detects process abnormalities quickly and takes emergency action to prevent them.

  •  Administration – Conducts effective hand-over activities and accurately records events that have occurred during shift (cases packed/rejects etc).

  • Safety – Full knowledge and understanding of all safe practices and systems relevant to the Sourcing Unit and the legal responsibility placed upon individuals.  Must actively contribute to the safe working environment.

  • Workplace Hazards - Full knowledge of workplace and hazards within it.  Utilise appropriate safety and environmental procedures for people, processes, materials, products and equipment relevant to the task.

  • Environment - Reduce costs due to waste and minimise impact to health, safety and the environment through working to eliminate waste and through the correct handling of waste and hazardous materials.  Must actively contribute to an eco-efficient environment.

  • Continuous Improvement – An awareness of how to use performance measures to identify and prioritise losses in production area; provides description of problems and can provide monitoring of process or line issues.

  • Teamwork – Must be a good team member capable of working within a highly effective team; responsible, supportive and reliable.

  •  Communication – Can adequately communicate issues relating to safety and can provide operational observations and inputs to support decision makers by team leaders.

  • Physical Ability – Operators require a level of agility to move quickly between workstations, ascend and descend steps often carrying loads.  Assembly and control operations also require a level of hand eye coordination and finger dexterity.  Monitoring and Quality assurance tasks require an adequate level of sight and smell.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

Essential

  • National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) with Math’s and Science OR N3 in Engineering

  • National school leaver qualifications in Reading and Comprehension, Writing and Mathematics.(Matric)  This will support recording of data and general teamwork skills with emphasis on good communication.

  • Experience of manufacturing in a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Company. (FMCG)

Additional Requirements:

  • Must be flexible within pattern of shift work to accommodate factory shutdowns, training courses etc.

  • Must be flexible to relieve other parts of the plant when required to

Skills

  • IT Skills – competent in the use of Microsoft Office; Excel and Word programmes is preferred.

  • Good Attention to detail

  • Good Communication Skills

  • Agile Mindset

BEHAVIORS

You are energized by delivering with excellence, taking personal ownership through building resilience and taking care of your own wellbeing. You are relentless on prioritization and focusing on what counts, making maximum performance impact in areasyou touch. You are constantly staying three steps ahead on ways to do thingsdifferently, interpreting data, spotting issues and opportunities; whilst caring deeply about what Consumer and Customers need.

At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.  We are intentional in employing the best talent that reflects the demographics of our country, and which will help build representation of currently under-represented groups. We therefore invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered. 

We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.

This is an office-based role in Boksburg and requires 100% of time attendance on site.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.

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