Factory Manager – Custom Joinery Manufacturing

Architek Commercial Interiors; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Autonomy to shape factory operations

Strong project pipeline with premium,

Job summary

Architek Commercial Interiors in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Factory Manager to own the entire joinery manufacturing operation. You will run the factory day to day, ensuring work is produced to the required standard, on time and on budget, collaborating with project managers, drafting and site installers to turn drawings into finished joinery on site.

You will lead production scheduling, materials purchasing, and continuous improvement, while upholding safety and quality across cutting,

Qualifications

• Experience managing joinery or cabinetmaking manufacturing
• Trade background in cabinetmaking or joinery
• Understanding of CNC production and panel processing
• Experience with production scheduling and purchasing
• Hands-on leadership with clear communication
• Comfortable with production software; Cabinet Vision a bonus

Responsibilities

• Schedule and prioritise production across the machine shop, cabinetmaking, specials and paint shop to meet project and site deadlines
• Plan workflow and batching jobs efficiently to keep machines and people productive
• Purchase materials and manage supplier relationships and stock control
• Troubleshoot production issues, including technical problems, bottlenecks, rework and machinery breakdowns
• Lead, support and develop factory staff, including foremen, tradespeople, operators and factory hands
• Maintain quality standards across every stage, from cutting to finishing to dispatch
• Coordinate deliveries and dispatch with the project and site teams
• Oversee workplace health and safety, equipment maintenance and housekeeping
• Identify and implement improvements to systems, processes and productivity

Skills

Production scheduling

Purchasing

Leadership

Problem solving

CNC production

Joinery manufacturing

Education

Cabinetmaking joinery trade

Tools

Cabinet Vision

Job description

Factory Manager – Custom Joinery Manufacturing

Architek Commercial Interiors – Clayton VIC

We're looking for an experienced Factory Manager to take ownership of our entire manufacturing operation. You'll run the factory day to day, making sure the right work gets built to the right standard, on time and on budget. You'll work closely with our project managers, drafting team and site installers to turn approved drawings into finished joinery on site.

Key responsibilities include:

• Scheduling and prioritising production across the machine shop, cabinetmaking, specials and paint shop to meet project and site deadlines
• Planning workflow and batching jobs efficiently to keep machines and people productive
• Purchasing and managing materials, hardware and consumables, including supplier relationships and stock control
• Troubleshooting production issues, including technical problems, bottlenecks, rework and machinery breakdowns, and getting things back on track fast
• Leading, supporting and developing factory staff, including foremen, tradespeople, operators and factory hands
• Maintaining quality standards across every stage, from cutting to finishing to dispatch
• Coordinating deliveries and dispatch with the project and site teams
• Overseeing workplace health and safety, equipment maintenance and housekeeping
• Identifying and implementing improvements to systems, processes and productivity

The role

We're looking for an experienced Factory Manager to take ownership of our entire manufacturing operation. You'll run the factory day to day, making sure the right work gets built to the right standard, on time and on budget. You'll work closely with our project managers, drafting team and site installers to turn approved drawings into finished joinery on site.

Key responsibilities include:

• Scheduling and prioritising production across the machine shop, cabinetmaking, specials and paint shop to meet project and site deadlines
• Planning workflow and batching jobs efficiently to keep machines and people productive
• Purchasing and managing materials, hardware and consumables, including supplier relationships and stock control
• Troubleshooting production issues, including technical problems, bottlenecks, rework and machinery breakdowns, and getting things back on track fast
• Leading, supporting and developing factory staff, including foremen, tradespeople, operators and factory hands
• Maintaining quality standards across every stage, from cutting to finishing to dispatch
• Coordinating deliveries and dispatch with the project and site teams
• Overseeing workplace health and safety, equipment maintenance and housekeeping
• Identifying and implementing improvements to systems, processes and productivity

Success in this role looks like

• Jobs leave the factory complete, on time and in the right sequence for site, so installers aren't waiting on missing items
• A production schedule that everyone trusts, with clear visibility for project managers on where every job is at
• Materials and hardware are ordered ahead of need, with no production delays from stock-outs and minimal over-ordering or waste
• Rework and defects are trending down, with problems caught in the factory rather than on site
• Problems are solved at the source. When something goes wrong, you fix it and put a process in place so it doesn't happen again
• Machines and people are well utilised, with bottlenecks identified and addressed before they hold up projects
• Foremen and team leaders are confident, accountable and running their areas well, and the team respects you and wants to stay
• A safe, clean, organised workshop with zero lost-time injuries
• Within your first 12 months, you've made measurable improvements to throughput, quality or cost, and the factory runs smoothly without the owner needing to step in day to day

About you

• Proven experience managing a joinery, cabinetmaking or similar manufacturing operation
• Trade background in cabinetmaking or joinery highly regarded
• Strong understanding of CNC production, panel processing and joinery construction methods
• Experience with production scheduling and purchasing
• A practical problem-solver who stays calm under pressure and makes good decisions quickly
• A hands‑on leader who earns respect on the floor and communicates clearly with the office
• Comfortable with software and production systems; Cabinet Vision experience a bonus
• High standards and an eye for detail. Our clients expect the best.

What we offer

• Competitive salary package
• The chance to lead a skilled team producing some of Melbourne's finest joinery
• Real autonomy and the opportunity to shape how the factory runs
• A stable, growing business with a strong pipeline of premium projects

About us

We design, manufacture and install high-end joinery for boutique apartment developments and luxury homes across Melbourne's blue-chip suburbs. Our workshop builds everything in-house, and our own onsite team installs it. At any one time we're running 10–15 projects ranging from $300k to $3M, so there's never a dull week.

Our factory includes a CNC machine shop, a team of general cabinetmakers, a specials department for complex and custom work, and an in-house 2 pack paint shop. We're growing, and we need the right person to lead the whole operation.