Production Team Leader

Mitolo Family Farms; Virginia; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Mitolo Family Farms is seeking a hands-on Production Team Leader for our Virginia fresh food processing and packaging operation. You will lead day-to-day activities, ensure on-time delivery, uphold quality and GMP standards, and support a safe, productive team environment.

Reporting to the Team Improvement Manager, you will coach your crew, coordinate lines, allocate work, and communicate through pre-starts and toolbox talks to optimise run rates on the day shift starting at 5:30am.

Qualifications

• Experience leading production teams in manufacturing or food production.
• Familiar with GMP and food safety standards.
• Forklift license preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production activities to meet orders and quality standards.
• Coach and develop the team to build a strong safety culture.
• Coordinate production lines, allocate work, and maximise run rates.
• Record production data and maintain required documentation.
• Communicate clearly through pre-starts and toolbox talks.

Skills

People leadership

Communication

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Decision making

Tools

Packing lines

Job description

Production Team Leader – Fresh Food Processing & Packaging

Are you an experienced leader who enjoys working in a fast-paced, hands-on environment? Do you take pride in delivering high-quality fresh food products while bringing out the best in your team? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for a hands‑on Production Team Leader to join our busy fresh food processing and packaging operation, located at our Virginia site. This is a full‑time role where no two days are the same, and where your leadership truly makes a difference.

This is a position on our day shift which commences at 5.30am and ends when production completes (approx. 10 hour shift).

About the Role

Reporting to the Team Improvement Manager, you’ll lead the day‑to‑day activities of our production team, ensuring orders are delivered on time, quality standards are met, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are upheld.

You’ll be a visible, supportive leader on the floor, and be willing to jump in to support the team.

A key focus of this role is coaching and guiding your team to build a strong safety culture and a positive, productive, and respectful work environment.

How you will make an impact

• Working closely with our Quality team to ensure customer expectations and food safety standards are consistently met
• Coordinating production lines, allocating work, and making the most of team capability to achieve optimal run rates
• Leading team performance, fostering a positive culture, and escalating issues when needed
• Communicating clearly and regularly through pre-starts, toolbox talks, and one‑on‑one conversations
• Maintaining and reinforcing GMP standards at all time
• Accurately recording production data and completing required documentation

About You

You’re a people‑focused leader who enjoys motivating others and celebrating team success. You bring your leadership skills, ideally gained within manufacturing or food production environments, and you’re confident with building strong working relationships across all levels of the business.

You’ll also have:

• Strong communication skills and a hands‑on leadership style
• The ability to stay organised and make timely and effective decisions in a busy environment
• A proactive approach to problem‑solving and operational excellence
• Hands‑on experience with packing lines and related equipment and an understanding of lean manufacturing is highly desirable but not essential

A forklift licence is preferred but not essential.

Additional Requirements

You will be required to complete a pre-employment medical, including drug and alcohol screening as part of our recruitment process.

About Mitolo Family Farms

Since 1972, we’ve been at the forefront of growing and packaging premium potatoes and onions, supplying Australia’s leading supermarkets and produce markets. As a forward-thinking and dynamic company, we combine time‑honoured farming traditions with cutting‑edge technology, ensuring the highest standards of quality through continuous innovation and dedication. At Mitolo Family Farms, farming is in our blood, and every product is meticulously harvested, sorted, cleaned, and packed by our skilled team and state‑of‑the‑art machinery to deliver the best to your table.