Site Manager

seek.com.au; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

seek.com.au is seeking an experienced Site Manager to lead a new food manufacturing operation in Melbourne's South-East. This hands-on leadership role drives overall site performance, including production, onsite cooking operations, food safety, inventory management and cost control.

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of management experience in food manufacturing, strong HACCP knowledge, and a practical, results‑driven approach.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' management experience in food manufacturing or related industry
• Experience as Head/Executive/Production Chef moving into operations is welcome
• Strong understanding of HACCP, food safety and quality systems
• Experience managing people, production schedules, inventory and site performance
• Commercially minded with strong organisational and problem‑solving skills
• Hands-on, proactive and results-driven
• Flexible and willing to work hours as required
• LF Forklift Licence is highly regarded

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all day-to-day site operations
• Oversee food production, cooking, inventory, warehousing and dispatch activities
• Manage site performance, operational expenditure and working capital
• Support New Product Development (NPD) initiatives and product launches
• Review and improve process flows, productivity and operational efficiencies
• Drive continuous improvement and waste reduction initiatives
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality and workplace safety standards
• Lead, coach and develop a small team
• Manage site capacity and support future business growth
• Build a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement

Skills

Leadership

People management

HACCP knowledge

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Hands-on

Results-driven

Flexible hours

Forklift licence

Job description

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Site Manager to lead a new food manufacturing operation in Melbourne's South-East. This is a hands‑on leadership role with responsibility for the overall performance of the site, including production, onsite cooking operations, food safety, inventory management, new product development support, process flow optimisation, people leadership, operational efficiency and financial outcomes. The operation includes onsite food production and cooking, making this an ideal opportunity for an experienced food manufacturing leader or a commercially minded Chef looking to transition into a broader operational management role.

Key responsibilities

Lead and manage all day-to-day site operations

Oversee food production, cooking, inventory, warehousing and dispatch activities

Manage site performance, operational expenditure and working capital

Support New Product Development (NPD) initiatives and product launches

Review and improve process flows, productivity and operational efficiencies

Drive continuous improvement and waste reduction initiatives

Ensure compliance with food safety, quality and workplace safety standards

Lead, coach and develop a small team

Manage site capacity and support future business growth

Build a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement

About you

Minimum 5 years' management experience within food manufacturing, production, central kitchens, FMCG or a related industry

Alternatively, an experienced Head Chef, Executive Chef or Production Chef looking to move into a broader operational leadership role

Strong understanding of HACCP, food safety and quality systems

Experience managing people, production schedules, inventory and site performance

Commercially minded with strong organisational and problem-solving skills

Hands‑on, proactive and results-driven

Flexible and willing to work hours as required to meet business needs

A current LF Forklift Licence is highly regarded

Competitive salary, depending on experience

Opportunity to lead and grow a standalone operation

Autonomy and genuine ownership of site performance

Diverse role combining food production, operations, people leadership and business management