Manufacturing Manager

Talent; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent is seeking a senior leader to head Manufacturing Programs & Growth in a defence environment. You will oversee a portfolio of complex programs, lead 3 Operations Managers and ~300 staff across multiple engineering and manufacturing domains, and drive governance, quality excellence and growth opportunities.

The role requires strategic and operational leadership, strong commercial acumen, and experience delivering large-scale programs in a highly technical setting.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience within complex manufacturing, engineering, or operational environments
• Proven delivery of large-scale programs or portfolios
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary technical teams
• Strong commercial acumen with growth opportunities
• Demonstrated ability to manage risks, interdependencies, budgets, and resources
• Strong senior stakeholder engagement and decision-making ability
• Experience in Defence, Aerospace, Electronic Systems, or related tech environments preferred

Responsibilities

• Leading manufacturing performance across safety, quality, cost, and schedule
• Providing strategic oversight across a portfolio of complex programs
• Leading and developing 3 Operations Managers with oversight of ~300 staff
• Managing priorities, resources, risks, and program-level trade-offs
• Driving governance, assurance, and cross-functional reviews
• Embedding APQP, quality excellence and continuous improvement
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and customers
• Identifying opportunities to expand capability and growth
• Bringing a commercial and growth mindset to strategic decisions

Job description

We are seeking an accomplished Head of Manufacturing Programs & Growth to lead a significant portfolio of complex engineering and advanced manufacturing programs within a sophisticated defence environment.

This is a senior leadership role combining manufacturing operations, program delivery, and commercial growth. You will lead 3 Operations Managers and have broader responsibility for approximately 300 indirect reports across Engineering, Machining, Electrical, Electronics and specialist trades.

The Role

You will be responsible for:

• Leading manufacturing performance across safety, quality, cost, and schedule


• Providing strategic oversight across a portfolio of complex, interdependent programs


• Leading and developing 3 Operations Managers, with oversight of a multidisciplinary workforce of approximately 300 people


• Managing priorities, resources, risks, and program-level trade-offs to optimise delivery


• Driving strong governance, assurance, and cross-functional performance reviews


• Embedding APQP, quality excellence and continuous improvement


• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, customers, and internal leadership teams


• Identifying and shaping opportunities to expand manufacturing capability and support future business growth


• Bringing a strong commercial and growth mindset to operational and strategic decision-making

About You

We are looking for a senior leader who brings a strong blend of manufacturing leadership, complex program management, and commercial capability.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant leadership experience within complex manufacturing, engineering, or operational environments


• Proven delivery of large-scale programs or portfolios


• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary technical teams through senior operational leaders


• Strong commercial acumen with experience identifying growth, capability expansion, or new business opportunities


• Demonstrated ability to manage complex risks, interdependencies, budgets, and resources


• Strong senior stakeholder engagement, influencing, and decision-making capability


• Experience within Defence, Aerospace, Electronic Systems, Electronic Warfare, Sensing, or similarly complex technology environments will be highly regarded

This role will suit a commercially minded manufacturing leader who can operate at both the strategic and operational level driving current program performance while helping shape future capability and growth.

Australian Citizenship is essential, along with eligibility to obtain and maintain an NV1 Australian Defence Security Clearance and meet applicable export control requirements.