Operations Leader — Dual-Plant Food Processing & Automation

Sonder Executive; Queensland; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonder Executive is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to oversee two fresh produce processing and packing facilities in Bundaberg, QLD. You will drive capacity expansion, automation initiatives and Lean improvements while ensuring safety, quality and regulatory compliance.

You will lead production planning, capital projects and budgets, developing strong leadership across teams and delivering measurable efficiency gains in a growing Australian food business.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in food manufacturing or fresh produce processing.
• Experience overseeing operations across multiple facilities.
• Strong financial acumen with budget ownership and cost management.
• Proven track record of improving throughput, yield and productivity.
• Experience delivering capital projects, automation or plant expansions.
• Lean/cim principles with HACCP/GMP knowledge.
• Developing operational teams and driving accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across two facilities with safe, cost-efficient production.
• Drive improvements in throughput, yield, labour productivity and costs.
• Oversee production planning and scheduling to optimise capacity and delivery.
• Manage expansion, capital investment and automation projects to meet budgets and timelines.
• Administer site budgets and maintenance expenditure.
• Champion a proactive safety culture and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and empower operational teams and leadership capabilities.
• Collaborate with quality, procurement and supply chain to boost performance.

Skills

Senior operations leadership

Lean manufacturing

Budget ownership

Safety culture

People development

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

Engineering/Manufacturing qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Capital project management tools

Job description

Sonder Executive is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to oversee two fresh produce processing and packing facilities in Bundaberg, QLD. You will drive capacity expansion, automation initiatives and Lean improvements while ensuring safety, quality and regulatory compliance.

You will lead production planning, capital projects and budgets, developing strong leadership across teams and delivering measurable efficiency gains in a growing Australian food business.