Operations Lead — Food Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

Blackbook Executive; Mildura; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackbook Executive is partnering with a well-established, market-leading food manufacturer to appoint an Operations Manager who will lead day‑to‑day production, inventory management and production planning. This role suits a strong people leader who thrives in fast‑paced environments.

You will manage production teams to hit KPIs for safety, quality and cost, oversee machinery maintenance, coordinate procurement of components, and drive continuous improvement across manufacturing,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of operations leadership experience in manufacturing & logistics.
• Experience building high-performing teams safely.
• Knowledge of inventory management concepts.
• Understanding of production planning in a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong continuous improvement background (LEAN / Six Sigma / 5Y).
• Commercial acumen with ability to identify cost drivers.
• Strong communication, coaching and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage production teams to meet KPIs in safety, quality, output, and cost.
• Ensure machinery maintenance and pre-start checks are completed and documented.
• Create and manage production plan, delivery plan and production process.
• Manage inventory team to ensure timely procurement of production components and raw materials.
• Document and report forecasted production and delivery dates.
• Lead, motivate, and engage teams across manufacturing, maintenance/engineering, and logistics.
• Foster a culture of business improvement for continuous results.
• Promote safety-first culture with WH&S processes, induction and training.
• Drive safety performance, risk awareness and compliance with safety regulations.
• Develop and monitor KPIs including labour, overtime, throughput, and inventory.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Inventory management

Safety

Continuous improvement

Coaching

Communication

Job description

Blackbook Executive is partnering with a well-established, market-leading food manufacturer to appoint an Operations Manager who will lead day‑to‑day production, inventory management and production planning. This role suits a strong people leader who thrives in fast‑paced environments.

You will manage production teams to hit KPIs for safety, quality and cost, oversee machinery maintenance, coordinate procurement of components, and drive continuous improvement across manufacturing,