Plant Manager

Agrana Fruit; Gosford; On-site; AUD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

AGRANA Fruit Australia is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead our Central Mangrove manufacturing site in NSW. This hands-on, commercially minded leader will drive safety, quality and cost objectives while building a high-performing team.

You will oversee operations across Production, Maintenance, Sustainability and Logistics, partnering with the COO and key functions to deliver reliable, compliant and customer-focused results.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in a Plant Manager, Operations Manager or similar senior manufacturing role.
• Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG or a comparable manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production operations, maintenance, plant reliability and continuous improvement.
• Commitment to workplace safety, product quality and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to lead, engage and develop teams while driving operational accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily plant operations with focus on safety, quality, service, productivity and cost targets.
• Inspire, coach and develop site teams to build a high-performing workplace culture.
• Champion workplace health and safety, food safety, quality and environmental compliance.
• Drive operational efficiency, equipment reliability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee production and maintenance activities to maximise plant performance and minimise downtime.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality and other functions to support production planning and customer requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Job description

AGRANA Fruit Australia is seeking an experienced and motivated Plant Manager to lead our manufacturing operations at Central Mangrove, NSW. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‑on, commercially minded leader who is passionate about people, safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you will play a pivotal role in driving site performance, developing a high-performing team and ensuring our operations consistently deliver on safety, quality, customer service and cost objectives.

About the Role

As Plant Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day management and performance of our Central Mangrove manufacturing facility. You will provide leadership across Production, Maintenance, Sustainability, Wastewater Treatment, Logistics and other site operational activities, ensuring the effective use of resources and the delivery of operational targets.

Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and key functional teams, you will drive a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage daily plant operations, ensuring safety, quality, service, productivity and cost targets are achieved.

Inspire, coach and develop site teams, building a positive, accountable and high-performing workplace culture.

Champion workplace health and safety, food safety, quality and environmental compliance.

Drive operational efficiency, equipment reliability and continuous improvement initiatives.

Oversee production and maintenance activities to maximise plant performance and minimise downtime.

Manage operational costs, resources and site performance against agreed KPIs.

Provide oversight of sustainability, wastewater treatment and environmental activities.

Collaborate with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality and other functions to support production planning and customer requirements.

Identify opportunities for process improvements, waste reduction and productivity gains.

Support capital investment projects, infrastructure improvements and long‑term operational planning.

Proactively identify and manage operational risks to ensure business continuity.

About You

We are looking for a confident, approachable and results‑focused leader who can balance strategic thinking with a practical, hands‑on approach. You will bring:

Proven leadership experience in a Plant Manager, Operations Manager or similar senior manufacturing role.

Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG or a comparable manufacturing environment, highly regarded.

Strong understanding of production operations, maintenance, plant reliability and continuous improvement.

A demonstrated commitment to workplace safety, product quality and regulatory compliance.

Proven ability to lead, engage and develop teams while driving operational accountability.

Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, costs and operational KPIs.

Excellent communication, stakeholder management and problem‑solving skills.

A proactive and collaborative leadership style, with the ability to drive change and deliver results.