Production Leading Hand Supervisor

The Fibreglass Factory; Yarram; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fibreglass Factory in Yarram, Gippsland, is seeking a Leading Hand / Production Supervisor to lead our laminating department while working hands-on with the team.

This is not a desk job; about 80% of your time is on the tools learning laminating and chopper-gun, with the rest guiding a small team of four. Prior supervisory experience in manufacturing is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience leading hands or supervisors in manufacturing or workshop environments.
• Able to organise people and priorities with minimal direction.
• Willing to learn fibreglass laminating and chopper-gun operation on the job.
• Good communication and ability to address quality or productivity issues.
• Strong commitment to quality, housekeeping and safe work practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and work alongside laminating and prep teams.
• Allocate and plan work throughout the day.
• Keep jobs moving and minimise downtime.
• Ensure moulds, materials and equipment are ready.
• Monitor workmanship and address quality issues early.
• Monitor resin use and waste.
• Maintain workshop standards and housekeeping.
• Monitor equipment and maintenance needs.
• Keep management informed.
• Learn laminating and chopper-gun operation on the job.
• Train and develop other team members over time.

Skills

Leading team

Team leadership

Supervisory experience

People organisation

Clear communication

Ownership of problems

Hands-on leadership

Willing to learn

Job description

Lead the team. Work on the tools. Keep production moving.

The Fibreglass Factory is looking for a capable, practical and proactive Leading Hand / Production Supervisor to lead our laminating department while working hands-on alongside the team.

You do not need fibreglass experience - we can teach you that. What we are looking for is someone who already knows how to lead people on a factory or workshop floor, think ahead, organise work and keep a small production team moving without needing constant direction.

This is not a desk-based supervisor role. Approximately 80% of your time will be spent working on the tools and learning our fibreglass manufacturing processes, with the remaining time focused on leading and coordinating a team of approximately four people.

What you'll be responsible for

• Leading and working alongside our laminating and prep team.
• Allocating work throughout the day and continually planning what comes next.
• Keeping jobs moving and minimising unnecessary downtime.
• Making sure moulds, materials and equipment are ready when required.
• Monitoring workmanship and addressing routine quality issues early.
• Monitoring resin measurements, material use and unnecessary waste.
• Maintaining strong housekeeping and workshop standards.
• Monitoring equipment and identifying maintenance requirements.
• Keeping management informed without needing management to solve every routine issue.
• Learning fibreglass laminating and chopper-gun operation on the job.
• Over time, helping train and develop other team members.

The person we're looking for

The right person is likely to be someone who:

• Has previous leading hand, team leader or supervisory experience in manufacturing, production, trades or a hands-on workshop environment.
• Naturally thinks ahead rather than waiting to be told what to do next.
• Can organise people and adjust priorities as the day changes.
• Communicates clearly and respectfully with different personalities.
• Is comfortable addressing poor workmanship or productivity issues when required.
• Leads from the front and is happy to work alongside the team.
• Takes ownership of problems and tries to resolve them before escalating them.
• Can learn new manufacturing processes and is willing to be trained in fibreglass production.
• Values quality, organisation, housekeeping and safe work practices.

A driver';s licence is preferred but not essential. Fibreglass/composites experience is welcome, but it is not required.

What matters most to us

We are not looking for the person with the longest fibreglass resume. We are looking for the person with the right

leadership skills, attitude and initiative.

If you can walk into a workshop, understand what needs to happen, organise a small team, think two or three steps

ahead and still happily get on the tools yourself, we want to hear from you.

Laminating Leading Hand / Production Supervisor

The role

• Full-time position.
• Monday to Thursday full days, Friday half day.
• Based in Yarram, Gippsland.
• Hands-on role - approximately 80% production / 20% leadership.
• On-the-job training in fibreglass laminating and chopper-gun operation.

Why join The Fibreglass Factory?

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a small production department while learning a specialised manufacturing trade. You will work closely with management, have clear responsibility for day-to-day workflow and play an important part in building a more efficient, capable and self-sufficient production team.