Operations Manager

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

The Company

We’re currently partnering with a well-establishedmarket leadingfood manufacturing business in search of a dynamic Operations Manager. This is a key appointment for someone ready to take on a leadership challenge and play a key role in driving performance, efficiency, and operational excellence.

You’ll be the right hand to the Operations Manager, stepping in to lead day-to-day operations across product intake, production, inventory management, and production planning/scheduling. This role is ideal for a strong people leader with a background inmanufacturing & logisticswho thrives in fast-paced environments.

The Role

Your role will be responsible for:

• Lead and manage production teams to meet KPIs in safety, quality, output, and cost.


• Ensure all machinery maintenance and pre-start checks are completed and documented, in all areas of operations. This includes machinery such as tractors, loaders, grinders, terex screen, terminal trucks, forklifts and related plant assets.


• Create and manage production plan, delivery plan and production process.


• Manageinventory team to ensure timely procurement of production components and raw materials.


• Document and provide reports of forecasted production and delivery dates.


• Lead, motivate, and engage teams across manufacturing, maintenance/engineering, and logistics to achieve individual, team, and site objectives.


• Foster a culture of business improvement to ensure continuous results and performance enhancement.


• Promote a safety-first culture across the site, ensuring that WH&S processes are in place, including induction, training, and safety programs.


• Drive excellence in safety performance, risk awareness, and compliance with safety regulations.


• Develop, track, and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including labour optimization, overtime, throughput rates, and inventory.

Your Background

In order to be successful in this role you will have:

• Minimum 5 years of operations leadership experience, responsible for leading manufacturing and logistics teams for a fast paced manufacturing business.


• Proven experience in manufacturing and logistics operations management experience, specifically in developing and buildinghigh performing groups in a safe manner.


• Knowledge of concepts and methodologies relating to inventory management.


• Thorough understanding of production planning within a food manufacturing environment.


• Strong continuous improvement background with a good grasp of sophisticated continuous improvement methodologies such as LEAN / Six Sigma and 5Y problem-solving tools.


• Good commercial acumen, able to understand and manage finances with the ability to identify the key cost drivers in a fast-paced food plant.


• Strong communication, coaching, consultation and negotiation skills with an ability to engage and influence internal stakeholders.

What’s On Offer

In return you will be given the opportunity to join an exciting & a clear market leading organisation where you can play a key role in their evolution and growth as a business. This is a role that will require you to use your operational, commercial, and leadership skills positioning you to move into an executive level role in the future. There’s also a competitive salary packageon offer, with the potential for future growth and development working with a large manufacturing business.