Machine Operative
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 1, 2026. First seen by Alion on Sep 14, 2026. DS Smith scores B on the Alion truth index.
Machine Operative
Salary: Starting £32,950, raising to £35,683 once trained
Hours: Working a 3-shift pattern (6am to 2pm, 10pm to 6am, 2pm to 10pm)
About the role
We are looking for Machine Operatives to join the team at our Belper site and play a vital role in achieving the business goals of our Packaging division, which produces corrugated packaging solutions for a range of customers in the FMCG, Pharmaceutical, Electronics and Industrial sectors.
Health & Safety is our number one priority and therefore you will be accountable for your own health and the health and safety of others, operating in line with safe systems of work (SSOW) and company procedures, immediately raising any unsafe acts with those concerned and reporting health and safety incidents to management, to ultimately help create a safe working environment for all.
You will be responsible for the safe operation of machinery, ensuring efficiencies are maximised and downtime is minimised. You will have set productivity and performance targets to achieve, ensuring that consistent quality standards are met, and you will need to ensure that maintenance and cleaning tasks are carried out correctly, in line with the planned maintenance schedule. We’d also like for you to support and assist with improvement initiatives, as and when they arise.
Key responsibilities include
- To be accountable for own and others health and safety whilst at work, operating in line with SSOW (safe systems of work) and company procedures to enable a safe working environment.
- To raise any unsafe acts seen immediately with individual(s) concerned and immediate reporting of health and safety incidents to management.
- To be responsible for the operation of machinery to ensure efficiencies are maximised and downtime is minimised.
- Achieve set productivity and performance targets ensuring consistent quality standards are met.
- Ensure that maintenance and cleaning tasks are carried out correctly and in line with the planned maintenance schedule. Support and assist with improvement initiatives.
About you
Minimum requirements:
- Puts safety first
- Self-motivated, positive, enthusiastic
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written
- Good Team Player
- Quality conscious
- Positive approach to multi-skilled working
- To be open minded, flexible to challenge and the ability to challenge and be challenged
Preferred requirements:
- Experience working in a production/machine operating environment
Benefits
- DS Smith pension scheme
- Death in service life assurance
- Company sick pay scheme
- Income protection
- Employee assistance programme
- Occupational Health including physiotherapy, and virtual GP service
- Cycle to work scheme via salary sacrifice
- Shopping discounts
- Electric car scheme via salary sacrifice
- Free eye test and flu vaccines
- Employee recognition scheme
- Opportunities to progress within the business
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- Discretionary bonus
- Free on-site car park parking
- On site canteen