Operations Manager - Manufacturing

Supashock Advanced Technologies; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Supashock Advanced Technologies in Adelaide seeks an experienced Operations Manager to lead our manufacturing operations at Holden Hill. You will translate demand into an actionable operating plan, coordinating Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality and Projects to deliver outcomes.

This hands-on, commercially minded leader will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost and people metrics, ensuring disciplined execution and measurable results in a complex manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience spanning safety, quality, delivery and cost.
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily and weekly production planning and execution to align with customer demand.
• Identify production constraints early and drive recovery plans to protect delivery.
• Maintain safe, compliant and auditable operations with robust records.
• Drive product quality and collaborate with Engineering and Quality to reduce defects.
• Provide executive reporting on performance, risks and recovery actions.

Skills

Operations leadership

Manufacturing knowledge

Budget management

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Engineering degree (desirable)

Job description

Supashock is a South Australian advanced technology company delivering innovative solutions across Defence, Automotive, Motorsport and Autonomous Systems.

About the opportunity

Supashock is seeking an accomplished Operations Manager to lead the safe, reliable and cost-effective performance of our manufacturing operations at Holden Hill.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this is a key leadership role with broad operational influence. You will translate customer demand and business priorities into an achievable operating plan, bringing Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality and Projects together to deliver.

This opportunity will suit a hands-on, commercially minded operations leader who thrives in a complex manufacturing environment and knows how to turn priorities into disciplined execution and measurable results.

What you'll be responsible for

You will take ownership of operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost and people, ensuring teams have the priorities, resources and support required to perform.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leading daily and weekly production planning and execution, aligning labour, materials, equipment and engineering support with customer demand.

Identifying production constraints early and driving effective recovery plans where delivery commitments are at risk.

Maintaining safe, compliant and audit-ready operations, supported by robust processes, records and product traceability.

Driving product quality and partnering with Engineering and Quality to reduce defects, rework, scrap and recurring production issues.

Improving labour efficiency, equipment utilisation, material yield, production flow and overall productivity.

Managing operational expenditure, overtime, contractors and resources against production requirements and approved budgets.

Establishing an integrated operating plan across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality and Projects.

Building accountability through clear ownership, performance measures and delivery timeframes.

Providing the executive team with accurate reporting on operational performance, emerging risks and recovery actions.

Leading, coaching and developing operational leaders while addressing performance issues promptly and constructively.

What you'll bring

You are an experienced operations leader who combines strong manufacturing knowledge with commercial judgement and the ability to lead people through growth, complexity and change.

Ideally, you will bring:

Proven operations leadership experience within complex manufacturing, engineering, defence, automotive, aerospace or another regulated environment.

An engineering background or relevant qualification is desirable, but not essential.

Demonstrated accountability for operational outcomes spanning safety, quality, delivery, cost and people.

Strong commercial acumen with experience managing budgets, labour, capacity and productivity.

A track record of leading cross-functional teams and successfully navigating competing operational priorities.

Experience implementing continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing or operational excellence initiatives.

Strong people leadership capability across coaching, performance management, workforce planning and leadership development.

The ability to balance immediate production demands with longer-term improvements in capability and performance.

A National Police Clearance obtained within the past 12 months, or willingness to obtain one.

Australian citizenship is preferred, noting security clearance requirements associated with some Defence-related work.

This is an opportunity to take on a highly influential leadership role where your decisions will directly impact manufacturing performance, operational capability and customer outcomes.

You’ll work across the business, partner closely with senior leadership and have the opportunity to shape how work gets done by strengthening processes, building accountability and driving a high-performance operating environment.

If you're motivated by complex manufacturing, operational excellence and delivering measurable results, we'd like to hear from you.

Applicants may be required to obtain and maintain an Australian Defence Security Clearance. Employment may be contingent upon the provision of further personal information, including citizenship, where required to meet security and compliance obligations.