Site Operations Manager

Arkadia Talent; Sydney; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance incentive

Superannuation

Job summary

Arkadia Talent is seeking a Site Operations Manager in Sydney to lead a fast-paced 7-day production facility. You will own the P&L, drive Lean/Six Sigma initiatives, and manage a ~50-person team across production, packaging, warehousing, maintenance, quality and safety.

You will report to the CEO, overseeing end-to-end operations, cost control, and continuous improvement to deliver world-class performance in a perishable goods environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior operational or site leadership role with P&L accountability.
• Proven track record in lean manufacturing and CI methodologies.
• Strong leadership of large, diverse teams in fast-paced, perishable goods environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production facility operations, ensuring output, quality and service targets.
• Own the site P&L and cost base, including labour, materials and utilities.
• Drive continuous improvement to reduce waste and lift throughput using Lean/Six Sigma.
• Manage cold chain, warehousing and dispatch to meet food safety standards.
• Partner with CEO and executive team on performance reporting and growth strategy.
• Build a high-performance, safety-first culture across a large workforce.

Skills

P&L ownership

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

CI / continuous improvement

People leadership

Supply chain management

Cold chain logistics

Safety compliance

Job description

This is a rare chance to step into the most senior operational leadership role at one of Australia's most respected fresh produce and food manufacturing businesses. Working with the CEO at the helm and a clear mandate for performance and growth, this is the right moment to join — and the right role to make your mark.

Reporting directly to the Group CEO, you'll have full end-to-end accountability for a fast-paced, 7-day production facility in North Western Sydney. This is a genuine GM role: you own the P&L, you lead the team, and you drive the results.

About the Business

An Australian family-owned agribusiness with over 50 years of operation. Vertically integrated across production, wholesale distribution, and supplies, this business supplies premium produce to major supermarket chains, leading restaurant groups, and specialist grocers nationally.

This is not a large corporate. It's a lean, high-performing business where every leader's impact is highly visible and where the right person will have genuine influence over the direction of the operation.

About the Role

As the Site Operations Manager, you'll lead a team of approximately 50 people across production, packaging, warehousing, maintenance, quality, and safety. Your 7 direct reports span Quality & Food Safety, Production Supervisors, Maintenance, Projects, and Warehousing & Logistics.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead day-to-day operations of the production facility — output, quality, and service levels
• Own the site P&L and operational cost base, including labour, materials, packaging, and utilities
• Drive a continuous improvement culture using Lean/Six Sigma methodologies to reduce waste and lift throughput
• Manage all cold chain, warehousing, and dispatch operations to full food safety compliance
• Own the end-to-end supply chain, including direct relationships with produce growers and exotic variety suppliers
• Maintain HACCP, SQF, and all food safety and WHS compliance obligations
• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team on performance reporting, cost initiatives, and growth strategy
• Build a high-performance, safety-first culture across a diverse workforce

About You

You're an experienced operational leader from food manufacturing, fresh produce, FMCG, or a similarly fast-paced perishable goods environment. You've run a production site end-to-end and you've owned the numbers, not just the floor.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience in a senior operational or site leadership role (GM, Site Manager, Operations Manager, or equivalent)
• Proven track record of P&L accountability and cost performance in a manufacturing or production environment
• Deep knowledge of lean manufacturing, CI methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent), and structured problem-solving
• Experience in supply chain management, cold chain logistics, and/or supplier relationship management
• Exceptional people leadership across a large, diverse workforce
• The drive to be present, hands‑on, and genuinely invested in the operation

Why This Role

• Report directly to the CEO — genuine influence from day one
• Full P&L ownership and end-to-end operational accountability
• Be part of a small, high-impact executive team at a genuine business inflection point
• Competitive base salary + superannuation + performance incentive