Operations Superintendent – Inkerman Mill

Wilmar Sugar Australia Limited; Ayr; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Wilmar Sugar Australia Limited in North Queensland is seeking an Operations Superintendent to lead cane crushing, sugar production, cogeneration and quality operations, delivering safety and production targets. You will supervise operational teams, drive continuous improvement, and optimise factory performance and workforce capability in a heavy industrial environment.

A tertiary engineering qualification or equivalent practical experience is essential, with a proven track record in leading

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering or equivalent practical experience within a heavy industrial environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing operational teams and driving production performance, safety, and continuous improvement outcomes.
• Strong operational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse performance, optimise processes, and deliver production objectives.
• Proven commitment to workplace health, safety, environmental compliance, and developing high-performing teams through coaching and leadership.
• Desirable: experience leading continuous improvement initiatives in heavy industrial/manufacturing environments.
• Desirable: knowledge of production planning, process optimisation and defect elimination methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage cane crushing, sugar production, cogeneration and quality operations to achieve production targets.
• Drive a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards and supporting continuous safety improvement initiatives.
• Monitor, analyse and report on factory performance, providing recommendations to improve operational efficiency and productivity.
• Lead, coach and develop operations teams, including performance management, succession planning, recruitment and training activities.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across people, processes and systems to optimise site performance and support business objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Problem solving

Safety compliance

Continuous improvement

Team coaching

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Tools

None

Job description

About Us

Wilmar Sugar Australia is part of Wilmar International, a leading global agribusiness with around 100,000 employees working across more than 30 countries and regions.

Across Australia and New Zealand, we operate two major business units, Sugar & Renewables and Sweeteners, employing 2,300+ people during peak/ seasonal operations with corporate offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Townsville and Auckland.

As Australia’s largest raw sugar manufacturer and a top 10 global producer, Wilmar Sugar & Renewables runs eight sugar mills across North Queensland. We are also one of the nation’s largest generators of renewable electricity from biomass, a major producer of bioethanol, the largest sugarcane grower, and a key supplier of sustainable fertiliser and stockfeed.

About The Role

The Operations Superintendent is a key site leadership role responsible for leading cane crushing, sugar production, cogeneration and quality operations to achieve production, safety and financial targets. The role provides leadership to operational teams, drives continuous improvement initiatives, ensures compliance with safety and environmental standards, and works closely with site leaders to optimise factory performance, production efficiency and workforce capability.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead and manage cane crushing, sugar production, cogeneration and quality operations to achieve production targets.
• Drive a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with health, safety and environmental standards and supporting continuous safety improvement initiatives.
• Monitor, analyse and report on factory performance, providing recommendations to improve operational efficiency and productivity.
• Lead, coach and develop operations teams, including performance management, succession planning, recruitment and training activities.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across people, processes and systems to optimise site performance and support business objectives.

About You

Our ideal candidate is an experienced operational leader with a strong background in heavy industrial manufacturing environments and a passion for driving safety, performance, and continuous improvement. You will bring proven leadership skills, the ability to optimise production outcomes, and experience managing teams in a fast-paced operational setting. With strong problem‑solving, planning and communication abilities, you thrive on developing people, improving processes, and collaborating across functions to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable business results. A tertiary qualification in Engineering or equivalent operational experience is essential, while experience within the sugar industry will be highly regarded.

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering or equivalent practical experience within a heavy industrial environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing operational teams and driving production performance, safety, and continuous improvement outcomes.
• Strong operational and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to analyse performance, optimise processes, and deliver production objectives.
• Proven commitment to workplace health, safety, environmental compliance, and developing high‑performing teams through coaching and leadership.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives and driving operational performance in a heavy industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, process optimisation, and defect elimination methodologies to support operational excellence and efficiency.

Recruitment Process

Applications are assessed independently and on their individual merits against the requirements of the advertised role.

As part of our recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be required to –

• Complete interviews, assessments, reference checks and verification of qualifications, licences and work rights.
• Successful candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete any role‑specific pre‑employment checks, which may include a pre‑employment medical assessment (including drug and alcohol screening).
• A National Police Check and other compliance requirements.

Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the job ads expiry, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Wilmar Sugar & Renewables is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Business unit Non seasonal