Site Operations Manager

Sonder Executive; Cobram; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Job summary

Sonder Executive is seeking an operational leader to run the daily fresh fruit packing, storage and dispatch facility in the Goulburn Valley. This hands-on role requires line-level presence, real-time decision making on fruit flow, labour, and equipment, and visible leadership, especially through peak seasons.

You will drive continuous improvement to lift throughput, efficiency and safety while maintaining GMP, food safety and export standards across the site.

Qualifications

• Proven experience running fresh produce processing or food manufacturing operations.
• Strong track record in managing workforce attendance, performance and safety.
• Practical understanding of GMP, food safety and WHS.

Responsibilities

• Run day-to-day processing operations across fresh produce from receival, grading, packing, cold storage and dispatch.
• Build and manage daily/weekly production schedules to align receivals with customer orders.
• Plan labour requirements, shift structures and overtime; supervise permanent and seasonal staff.
• Assist with recruitment, induction and training of seasonal workforce.
• Coordinate receival timing with farm managers and transport to keep the shed flowing.
• Maintain GMP, food safety and export certification standards; lead safety culture.

Skills

Operations management

Team leadership

GMP & food safety

Labor planning

Job description

The business

Our client is an established, family owned horticulture business in the Goulburn Valley, growing, packing and dispatching fresh produce for domestic and export markets. With their own orchards feeding a modern packing, cold storage and dispatch facility, they control the product from tree to truck. The business is well run, commercially focused and looking for an operational leader to take the processing side of the organisation to the next level in sophistication, safety and performance.

The role

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will run the daily operation of the fresh fruit packing, storage and dispatch facility. This is a working manager position, not a desk job. You will be on the floor, making real time decisions on fruit flow, labour and equipment, and visibly leading the team, especially through peak season.

Your accountabilities will include:

• Running day to day processing operations across a range of fresh produce from receival, grading, packing, cold storage and dispatch
• Building and managing daily and weekly production schedules so receivals align with customer orders
• Planning labour requirements, shift structures and overtime, and directly supervising permanent and seasonal casual staff
• Assisting with recruitment, induction and training of the seasonal workforce
• Coordinating receival timing with farm managers and transport providers to keep the shed flowing
• Keeping bin tipping, grading and packing lines running, coordinating minor repairs and escalating major maintenance issues
• Driving a strong safety culture and maintaining GMP, food safety and export certification standards
• Managing cold storage utilisation, stock rotation and handover to dispatch
• Giving the Managing Director clear feedback on capacity, receival risks and labour constraints
• Leading continuous improvement to lift throughput, efficiency and safety

About you

• Proven experience running a fresh produce processing or food manufacturing operation
• Strong track record managing operational workforces and holding people to account on attendance, performance and safety
• Practical understanding of food manufacturing / processing including operational capacity and labour productivity
• Sound working knowledge of GMP, food safety and WHS requirements
• Experience with fresh produce, or a background in grower linked businesses, will be highly regarded but not essential.

What's on offer

A genuine leadership role in a stable, owner operated horticulture business, with the autonomy to run the site your way and the backing of a Managing Director with a growth mindset that wants to drive positive change. The Goulburn Valley offers an affordable regional lifestyle within easy reach of the Murray, with relocation support available for the right candidate.