Production Manager

G.James Group; Newcastle-Maitland; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Health insurance discount

Career growth

Job summary

G. James Glass & Aluminium is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead our Newcastle Windows & Doors manufacturing operation; this is a hands-on leadership role on the factory floor focusing on people development, problem solving and continuous improvement.

You will own day-to-day production performance, align capacity, labour, materials and customer requirements with the Branch Manager and broader team, while driving safety, quality and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience leading production teams in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of workplace health and safety.
• Ability to improve productivity and process discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the production team to high performance.
• Plan and manage production schedules to meet delivery commitments.
• Drive DIFOT, labour efficiency and quality performance.
• Maintain safety culture through leadership and risk management.
• Coordinate maintenance and inventory support for production.

Skills

Production leadership

Labour planning

Manufacturing schedules

WHS / safety

Problem solving

Data-driven improvement

ERP software

Tools

ERP software

Job description

G. James Glass & Aluminium is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead our Newcastle Windows & Doors manufacturing operation. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys being on the factory floor, developing people, solving problems and improving the way work gets done.

Reporting to the Branch Manager, you will be responsible for driving the performance of the production operation, ensuring our custom aluminium window and door products are manufactured safely, efficiently, to the required quality standards and delivered in full and on time.

The position provides the opportunity to make a genuine impact through improved planning, labour utilisation, production discipline and continuous improvement.

Your Role

You will take ownership of day-to-day production performance and work closely with the Branch Manager, sales team and broader operations team to ensure production capacity, labour, materials and customer requirements remain aligned.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Lead, coach and develop the production team, setting clear expectations around performance, accountability and standards.
• Build and maintain a strong safety culture through visible leadership, toolbox talks, training and proactive management of workplace risks.
• Plan and manage production schedules, labour requirements and factory capacity to meet customer delivery commitments.
• Drive DIFOT, labour efficiency, productivity and quality performance, identifying issues early and putting corrective actions in place.
• Monitor production workflows and ensure orders progress accurately and efficiently through manufacturing.
• Maintain a strong focus on product quality, QA requirements and reducing rework.
• Work closely with sales and operational teams to manage lead times, priorities and changing customer requirements.
• Oversee inventory, purchasing, logistics and dispatch activities supporting production.
• Monitor machinery, tools and production assets and coordinate maintenance requirements.
• Use production dashboards, reporting and job-cost information to understand performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead 5S, process, layout and continuous-improvement initiatives to improve factory efficiency.
• Support the Branch Manager in controlling operating costs and improving the overall financial performance of the operation.

About You

We are looking for a practical, visible and results-focused leader who enjoys working with people and isn't afraid to get involved in the day-to-day operation.

Ideally, You Will Bring

• Proven leadership experience within manufacturing, fabrication, construction or a related industrial environment.
• Experience managing production teams, labour planning and manufacturing schedules.
• A strong understanding of workplace health and safety.
• A track record of improving productivity, quality and operational performance.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• The ability to develop people, set expectations and address performance issues when required.
• Good organisational, planning and communication skills.
• Experience with inventory, logistics and production or ERP systems.
• Confidence using operational data and reports to identify problems and drive improvement.
• Experience within aluminium windows and doors, glass, glazing or fabrication would be highly regarded.
• Leadership, operations, WHS or lean-manufacturing qualifications would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary aligned with your experience
• Long-term career opportunity with a stable, family-owned Australian business
• Corporate health benefits, including a 7% discount on BUPA health cover
• Ongoing leadership and technical development
• A collaborative, safety-focused workplace with strong values

Apply Now

If you’re ready to step into a leadership role where your experience and ideas will make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your suitability.

Please Note: All offers of employment will be subject to passing a pre-employment medical and drug & alcohol screen.

G.James is an equal opportunity employer. For more information, visit www.gjames.com. Celebrating 109 years in 2026!