Operations Manager (Production)

Bannister Downs Dairy; Bunbury; Presencial; AUD 120.000 - 160.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Permanent role

Room to grow

Attractive package

Descripción de la vacante

Bannister Downs Dairy, Northcliffe, WA, is seeking a Production/Operations Manager to lead a 20-strong team within a food production facility. You will oversee daily production, plan for growth, and work closely with maintenance, logistics, and processing teams to optimise equipment and processes.

The role is based on-site, with a current Monday–Friday production pattern. The package reflects experience and offers room to grow with a long-standing family business expanding its operations.

Formación

• Hands-on experience in food or beverage manufacturing (dairy preferred).
• Working knowledge of HACCP and food safety systems.
• Strong planning skills and clear communication.
• Ability to build a team and develop people.
• Willingness to take responsibility and grow with the business.

Responsabilidades

• Safe and efficient growth of production while maintaining product quality.
• Close day-to-day production management and planning to meet volume, quality and delivery targets.
• Building the team: developing emerging leaders and earning the respect of the people you lead.
• Assessing equipment and working with maintenance to keep the plant reliable as volumes increase.
• Uphold food safety and export registration, including HACCP and quality policies.
• Improve systems and processes to prepare operations for increased scale.

Conocimientos

Hands-on dairy manufacturing

HACCP knowledge

Planning skills

Team leadership

Clear communication

Descripción del empleo

Bannister Downs is a family-owned dairy at Northcliffe, in the Southern Forests of Western Australia. We process and bottle our milk on site, supply customers across WA and export into the Asia Pacific under an (Export) Approved Arrangement with the Federal Government.

The business is entering a period of strong growth, and we aim to grow without compromising the quality our customers know us for. We need someone to take responsibility for leading our production through that growth.

About the role

This role is based within our processing facility, being a food production role (not farming). Reporting to the Managing Director, you will run production day to day, leading a team of around 20 that includes six developing leaders. Working closely with our Maintenance Lead, Logistics Manager and the processing, filling and dispatch teams. This role includes a combination of hands on with the team to achieve improvements on equipment optimisation and processes, as well as desk work for planning, stock and team management.

We are currently in production Monday to Friday.

Key responsibilities

Safe and efficient growth of production, without compromising product quality

Close day-to-day production management and planning to meet volume, quality and delivery targets

Building the team: developing our emerging leaders and earning the respect of the people you lead

Assessing our equipment and working with maintenance to keep the plant reliable as volumes increase

Food safety, including the upholding of our Export Registration, encompassing our HACCP system, working with our quality policies

Improving systems and processes to prepare operations for smooth transition to increased scale

We’re open to an experienced Production or Operations Manager, and equally to a supervisor, shift manager or team leader who is ready to step up. Capability and attitude matter more to us than your current title, and someone who has come up through production, working hands‑on with the equipment and the product, will feel at home here. You’ll bring:

• Hands‑on experience in food or beverage manufacturing. Dairy is ideal, but meat, bakery, beverage and other chilled or perishable production are just as relevant
• A working knowledge of HACCP and food safety systems
• Strong planning skills and clear, direct communication
• The ability to build a team, develop people and hold their respect
• A genuine interest in taking responsibility and growing with the business

Living in the Southern Forests

The role is based at Northcliffe and you’ll need to live in the region. Pemberton, Manjimup and Quinninup are all within reach, with private college education available in Manjimup (Kearnan College). The cost of living is lower than in the city and the communities are close-knit. For candidates moving to the region, we’ll talk through relocation as part of the process.

What’s on offer

• An attractive package, based on experience
• A permanent role in a family business where your work is visible and valued
• Room to grow as the business does

Generational Farming for more than 100 years and now producing farm direct, award winning premium fresh dairy that is sought after by barista's, consumers and chef's alike! Our small team are dedicated to achieving great results each day and proud of the products they make.

Generational Farming for more than 100 years and now producing farm direct, award winning premium fresh dairy that is sought after by barista's, consumers and chef's alike! Our small team are dedicated to achieving great results each day and proud of the products they make.