Regional Director of Operations

West Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

West Recruitment is seeking an APAC Operations leader to own end-to-end manufacturing strategy across Asia Pacific. You will lead a network of sites in Australia and New Zealand and oversee contract manufacturers throughout Asia, ensuring safety, quality and cost targets are met.

You will report to the Managing Director APAC, shaping regional capability, productivity improvements and capital investment while building strong operational leadership across the network.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership within manufacturing and operations.
• Experience leading multiple manufacturing sites across regions.
• Strong exposure to food safety, quality and regulatory environments.
• Track record of improving productivity, efficiency and cost performance.
• Commercial and financial capability, including operating budgets and CAPEX.
• Practical understanding of Lean, Six Sigma or Operational Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the APAC Operations strategy aligned to growth plans.
• Lead manufacturing performance across sites in Australia and New Zealand.
• Build an operational excellence and continuous improvement culture.
• Drive improvements across OEE, productivity, yield, waste, DIFOT, cost and inventory.
• Lead the capital investment roadmap, including automation and facility upgrades.
• Oversee safety, food safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
• Develop the external manufacturing strategy across Asia and ensure partners meet quality and cost targets.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Supply Chain, R&D, Finance and HR to support new products and regional expansion.

Skills

Leadership experience

Manufacturing operations

Multi-site management

Food safety & quality

CAPEX & budgeting

Lean/Six Sigma

Job description

This is a genuine opportunity to join a global FMCG business that combines the scale and stability of an international market leader with the pace and autonomy of a growing APAC operation.

The business has a significant manufacturing footprint across Australia and New Zealand, an established presence with major retailers and ambitious plans for further growth throughout Asia Pacific. APAC is already one of the organisation's key growth regions, making this a particularly important appointment for the business.

About your new Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director APAC and sitting on the regional Executive Leadership Team, you will take ownership of the end-to-end Operations strategy across Asia Pacific.

This isn't simply a role overseeing factories. You'll be responsible for shaping what the regional manufacturing network needs to look like as the business continues to grow into the future.

You'll lead manufacturing operations across sites in Australia and New Zealand, while also overseeing contract manufacturing partners throughout Asia. Your remit covers safety, food safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, capital investment and, importantly, building the capability of the teams underneath you.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the APAC Operations strategy, aligned to the broader growth plans of the business
• Lead manufacturing performance across multiple sites in Australia and New Zealand
• Build a strong operational excellence and continuous improvement culture
• Drive improvements across OEE, productivity, yield, waste, DIFOT, cost and inventory
• Lead the regional capital investment roadmap, including automation, equipment and facility upgrades
• Take executive ownership of safety, food safety, quality and regulatory compliance
• Develop the external manufacturing strategy across Asia and ensure partners deliver on quality, service, cost and compliance
• Work closely with Commercial, Supply Chain, R&D, Finance and HR to support new products and continued regional expansion
• Develop strong operational leaders and build succession capability across the network

About You

We're looking for an experienced manufacturing leader who has operated at a senior level within a complex FMCG, food or consumer goods environment.

You’ll ideally bring:

• 10+ years' progressive leadership experience within manufacturing and operations
• Experience leading multiple manufacturing sites
• Strong exposure to food safety, quality and regulatory environments
• A track record of improving productivity, efficiency and cost performance
• Strong commercial and financial capability, including operating budgets and CAPEX
• A practical understanding of Lean, Six Sigma or broader Operational Excellence methodologies

What's in it for you?

You get the backing, resources and brands of a large global FMCG organisation, but you're joining an APAC business that is still growing extremely quickly and where the regional leadership team has genuine scope to make decisions and shape what comes next.

For the right Operations leader, it's an opportunity to influence manufacturing strategy across an entire region rather than simply inherit and maintain an existing operation.

The role is Sydney based and will require regular travel to manufacturing operations in regional NSW and New Zealand, along with visits to manufacturing partners across Asia.