Manufacturing Manager - Toolara

Fletcher Building; Hervey Bay; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Laminex, part of Fletcher Building, is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Manager to lead our Toolara site near Gympie, Queensland. You will oversee safety, quality, people and operation performance to deliver outstanding results.

You will build capability, drive OEE and productivity gains, champion safety, and partner with engineering, maintenance and technical teams to embed continuous improvement.

Relocation support is available for strong candidates from across Queensland.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in a large-scale manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing operations.
• Proven experience improving safety, reliability and plant performance.
• Knowledge of how OEE, quality and asset reliability contribute to manufacturing performance.
• Strong people leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• An engineering or technical background would be highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams, building capability and accountability.
• Drive improvements in OEE, reliability, productivity and operational efficiency.
• Champion physical and psychological safety across the operation.
• Work closely with production, engineering, maintenance and technical teams.
• Embed continuous improvement into everyday operations.
• Support plant upgrades, capital investment and improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership experience

People management

Operational excellence

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering background

Job description

At Laminex, our operations help Australians build, renovate and design better spaces through the products we create. Backed by more than 90 years of industry leadership, we're passionate about creating products and experiences and value innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. Whether you're supporting our operations, working with customers, driving commercial outcomes or leading strategic initiatives, you'll be part of a collaborative team shaping the future of one of Australia's most iconic building products brands.

We're looking for an experienced Manufacturing Manager to lead one of our most significant manufacturing sites at Toolara, located near Gympie Queensland. This is an opportunity to take a key leadership role within a large-scale manufacturing environment and help drive the next phase of safety, culture, reliability and operational performance across the site.

This isn't simply about keeping the plant running. It's about creating an environment where people thrive, performance improves, and continuous improvement becomes part of everyday operations.

About the Role

You'll be responsible for the site's overall performance as Manufacturing Manager. Your remit spans safety, quality, people, customer outcomes and operational efficiency, ensuring the operation delivers outstanding results across each of these areas.

You will:

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams, building capability and accountability.
• Drive improvements in OEE, reliability, productivity and operational efficiency.
• Champion physical and psychological safety across the operation.
• Work closely with production, engineering, maintenance and technical teams.
• Embed continuous improvement into everyday operations.
• Support plant upgrades, capital investment and improvement initiatives.

About You

You’ll be an experienced manufacturing leader who combines strong operational capability with a practical, people-focused leadership style.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• Significant leadership experience in a large-scale manufacturing, industrial or process environment.
• A strong technical understanding of manufacturing operations.
• Proven experience improving safety, reliability and plant performance.
• Knowledge of how overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), quality and asset reliability contribute to manufacturing performance.
• Strong people leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• An engineering or technical background would be highly regarded.

Why Laminex?

This is an opportunity to take on a significant operational leadership role within one of our major Australian manufacturing operations, backed by the scale and career opportunities of Laminex and Fletcher Building.

Not currently based in the region? We’re open to candidates from across Queensland and interstate and can offer relocation assistance to help you and your family make the move to the Gympie region.

We offer competitive remuneration, incentive opportunities and genuine career development within a business committed to safety, its people and continuous improvement.

If you’re an experienced manufacturing leader looking for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.