Director of Factory Operations

Essense of Australia; Perth; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Essense of Australia is a global luxury bridal brand with offices in Perth and international partners. We seek a Director of Factory Operations to lead our global factory network, set strategy, drive sourcing, production planning and continuous improvement across partners, aligning with financial targets and brand standards.

Travel internationally to strengthen supplier relationships and scalability. Reporting to executive leadership, you will advance AI-enabled workflows, manage KPIs, and build

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and minimum 7 years in factory ops or supply chain leadership.
• Strong analytical abilities with experience linking data to decision making.
• Proven ability to lead and develop global supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of global factory operations strategy.
• Integrate AI tools to automate workflows and improve efficiency.
• Oversee factory relationships with senior stakeholders and KPIs.
• Drive pricing, supplier agreements, and commercial strategy.
• Manage seasonal production timelines and critical milestones.
• Lead factory sourcing and onboarding of new partners.
• Ensure ethical, regulatory, and brand standards across factories.
• Provide reporting and insights to executive leadership.
• Develop and lead the Factory Operations team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Global stakeholders

AI adoption

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or related

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About us

Essenseof Australiais an international bridal wholesaler with key offices based in Perth,Australia, Kansas, USA and Zug, Switzerland. Our organisation alsooperatesinthe United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand. We have been a global leader in bridal fashion for over20years and our designs are currently soldinnearly1,000stores worldwide. With innovative designs and a strong customer service approach, Essenseof Australiais a dynamic company that rewards excellence, drive, and collaboration.

About the role

At Essense, we thrive on creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovation, but we balance that with the planning, structure, and analytical mindset that keep us moving forward. We are seeking an experienced Director of Factory Operations to lead the performance, and optimisation of our global factory network. This role will oversee all aspects of factory operations including sourcing, production planning, onboarding, and continuous improvement, ensuring alignment with business objectives, financial targets, and luxury brand standards.

This role is responsible for leading factory strategy at a global level, while partnering closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure consistent delivery, scalability, and operational excellence across all factory partners.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of global factory operations strategy aligned to business objectives


• Lead the integration of AI tools and technology into factory operations - identifying high-impact opportunities to automate workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and elevate team output, while building a culture where AI adoption is the standard for the team.


• Oversee factory relationships through regular engagement with senior factory stakeholders


• Review and drive performance against factory KPIs (quality, cost, delivery, compliance)


• Lead commercial strategy including pricing, negotiation, and supplier agreements


• Oversee seasonal production timelines, collection launches, and critical milestone delivery


• Identify risks and elevate or resolve complex operational issues beyond BAU


• Lead factory sourcing strategy including identification, evaluation, and onboarding of new partners


• Drive improvements in factory processes, standards, and operational efficiency


• Ensure compliance with ethical, regulatory, and brand standards across all factories


• Provide reporting, insights, and recommendations to executive leadership


• Lead and develop the Factory Operations team


• Travel internationally to support factory relationships and sourcing initiatives

What we’re looking for

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business or a similar field preferred.


• Proven experience (minimum 7 years) in factory operations, manufacturing, or supply chain leadership within the garment industry or related field.


• Strong analytical aptitude with an ability to connect dots, ask insightful questions and synthesise feedback from multiple sources.


• Ability to think and plan end-to-end; can identify and timeline steps to complete complex or ambiguous projects.


• Ability to work on multiple priorities and/or projects simultaneously while meeting agreed deadlines.


• Exceptionally organised and detail-oriented with strong time management skills.


• Procedure and process oriented with ability and inclination to document, socialise and hold others accountable for procedures


• Demonstrated success in leading and supporting high performing teams.


• Proven experience managing global supplier relationships in a complex environment.


• Strategic mindset with strong operational execution capability.


• A forward-thinking approach to operational excellence, with the ability to evaluate and apply AI tools strategically - driving measurable efficiency gains and equipping your team to work smarter at every level of the operation.


• Experience in sourcing, capacity planning, and production management


• Highly developed stakeholder management and leadership skills


• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, global luxury environment

What we offer

Essense of Australia is a company with heart. We value creativity, innovation, and dedication, andwe’relooking for someone who shares our passion for delivering exceptional bridal fashion to brides and partners alike.In return for your skills, we offer you the opportunity to join an international industry leader and be part of a creative and collaborative culture that empowers its people, promotesteamworkand embraces sustainability. We recognise and reward excellence, innovation, and loyalty.

Join Essense of Australia and be part of a passionate team dedicated to helping brides around the world find their dream wedding gowns.