Citrus Production & Packing Lead

MFC Mildura Fruit Company; Mildura; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mildura Fruit Company is seeking a highly experienced leader to run the day-to-day operations at our citrus packing facility in Mildura. You will manage processing, packing, storage and dispatch, ensuring smooth production flow and on-time fulfilment for domestic and international customers.

You will develop schedules, optimise labour use and drive continuous improvements across safety, quality and efficiency in a large seasonal workforce.

Qualifications

• Proven management experience in large-scale fresh produce processing, packing or food manufacturing.
• Strong hands-on leadership of permanent and seasonal workforces in a fast-paced operation.
• Practical knowledge of production flow, labour planning and productivity improvement.
• Sound understanding of GMP, food safety and workplace health and safety requirements.
• Strong communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day and weekly operation of the packing facility, including processing, grading, packing, storage and dispatch.
• Develop and manage production schedules to align fruit intake, capacity and customer orders.
• Monitor and optimise labour efficiency, overtime, throughput, and other KPIs.
• Plan shift structures and labour requirements across a large seasonal workforce.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence on the production floor, especially during peak season.
• Respond quickly to changes in fruit quality, labour availability, customer demand and downtime.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Grower Services, Sales and Quality teams to optimise flow.
• Drive a safety-first culture and uphold high standards of GMP, hygiene and housekeeping.
• Support recruitment, induction, training and performance management of production staff.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to boost safety, quality, productivity and performance.

Skills

Leadership

Labor planning

Scheduling

GMP & safety

Team building

Problem solving

Production optimization

Job description

Mildura Fruit Company is seeking a highly experienced leader to run the day-to-day operations at our citrus packing facility in Mildura. You will manage processing, packing, storage and dispatch, ensuring smooth production flow and on-time fulfilment for domestic and international customers.

You will develop schedules, optimise labour use and drive continuous improvements across safety, quality and efficiency in a large seasonal workforce.