Production Manager

Mildura Fruit Company; Mildura; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Mildura Fruit Company, a leading citrus packing and export business based in Mildura, is seeking an experienced production leader to run the day-to-day operations of our large-scale facility. You will oversee processing, packing, storage and dispatch, while aligning schedules with fruit intake and customer orders.

You will manage a permanent and seasonal workforce, drive safety and quality through GMP standards, and partner with Operations, Maintenance, Grower Services and Sales to continuously

Qualifications

• Proven management experience in large-scale fresh produce processing, packing or food manufacturing.
• Experience leading permanent and seasonal workforces in a fast-paced operation.
• Knowledge of production flow, labour planning and productivity improvement.
• GMP, food safety and workplace health and safety understanding.
• Leadership skills and ability to build high-performing teams.
• Experience with production scheduling, performance metrics and efficiency measures.
• Commercial and financial capability within a large processing or packing operation.
• Strong communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Flexibility to work extended or irregular hours during peak seasons.
• Experience in large-scale citrus processing and packing is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of packing facility: processing, grading, packing, storage and dispatch.
• Develop and manage production schedules to align fruit intake, capacity and orders.
• Monitor labour efficiency, overtime, throughput and KPIs.
• Plan shift structures and labour requirements for permanent and seasonal staff.
• Maintain a hands-on presence on the production floor, especially during peak season.
• Respond quickly to changes in fruit quality, labour availability and equipment uptime.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Grower Services, Sales and Quality teams to optimize flow.
• Lead safety-first culture and uphold food safety, GMP, hygiene and housekeeping.
• Support recruitment, induction, training and performance management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, quality and productivity.

Skills

Production management

People leadership

Production flow

GMP & safety

Safety leadership

Scheduling metrics

Commercial finance

Communication skills

Flexibility

Citrus processing

Job description

• Leadproduction in one of Australia’s largest citrus pack houses
• Takeownership of a complex, large-scale, multi-shift operation
• Joina respected and growing business with strong regional roots and global reach

Who are we?

Mildura Fruit Company is one of Australia's leadingcitrus packing and export businesses, sourcing fruit from more than 110 growersacross the Sunraysia and Riverland regions. From our state-of-the-art Mildurapackhouse, we supply premium citrus to customers across Australia and aroundthe world.

Why join us?

• LeadershipImpact: Play a key role in shaping the safety, quality,culture and performance of our Mildura production facility.
• MeaningfulWork: Lead the processing and packing of premiumAustralian fruit for domestic and international customers.
• OperationalOwnership: Take responsibility for production flow, labourdeployment, equipment uptime and dispatch execution.
• Growthand Variety: Work in a dynamic seasonal environment wherepriorities change and continuous improvement is encouraged.
• ProudRegional Business: Join a well-established organisation with stronggrower partnerships and a global customer base.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead the day-to-day and weekly operation of thepacking facility, including processing, grading, packing, storage and dispatch.
• Develop and manage production schedules to alignfruit intake, operational capacity and customer orders.
• Monitor and optimise labour efficiency, overtime,throughput and other key operational performance indicators.
• Plan shift structures and labour requirementsacross a permanent and large seasonal workforce.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence on theproduction floor, particularly during peak season.
• Respond quickly to changes in fruit quality, labouravailability, customer demand and equipment uptime.
• Work closely with Operations, Maintenance, GrowerServices, Sales and Quality teams to optimise production flow.
• Lead a safety-first culture and maintain highstandards of food safety, GMP, hygiene and housekeeping.
• Support the recruitment, induction, training andperformance management of production employees.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhancesafety, quality, productivity and operational performance.

What you’ll bring

• Proven management experience in large-scale freshproduce processing, packing or food manufacturing.
• Strong hands-on experience leading permanent andseasonal workforces in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Practical knowledge of production flow, labourplanning and productivity improvement.
• Sound understanding of GMP, food safety andworkplace health and safety requirements.
• Strong leadership skills and a demonstrated abilityto build capable, accountable and high-performing teams.
• Experience with production scheduling, performancemetrics and operational efficiency measures.
• Commercial and financial capability within a largeprocessing or packing operation.
• Strong communication, decision-making andproblem-solving skills.
• Flexibility to work extended or irregular hoursduring peak seasonal periods.
• Experience in large-scale citrus processing andpacking will be highly regarded.

Ready to lead a high-performingproduction operation? Join Mildura Fruit Company and help us safely andefficiently deliver premium Australian fruit to customers around the world.