Site Operations Manager - FMCG

Private Advertiser; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Private Advertiser is seeking a senior Site Operations Manager to lead our New South Wales manufacturing operation, overseeing production, warehousing, dispatch and site services with a focus on safety, quality and efficiency.

You will translate strategic plans into daily action, drive workforce development, and deliver cost reductions and continuous improvement across the site. This is a high-responsibility role requiring strong budgeting and leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in a senior operations or site leadership role.
• Experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, chilled foods, meat or smallgoods sectors.
• Proven budget ownership and cost control experience.
• Solid knowledge of GMP, HACCP, quality assurance and food safety systems.
• Driver's licence and Australian working rights.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production, warehousing and dispatch operations across the site.
• Oversee labour, expenditure, productivity, yield and waste against budget.
• Establish and track operational KPIs; drive accountability at site leadership level.
• Improve plant reliability by partnering with maintenance and minimising downtime.
• Drive continuous improvement and cost reduction across safety, quality, service and people.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding and performance management.
• Build relationships with customers, suppliers, auditors and internal support functions.
• Provide clear reporting on site performance and emerging risks.

Skills

Leadership

GMP/HACCP knowledge

Lean/Six Sigma

ERP systems

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Budget management

MS Office

Safety & compliance

Change management

Education

Tertiary qualification in operations/engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Lead the performance of an established food manufacturing operation

An established Australian food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced and hands-on Site Operations Manager to lead its New South Wales manufacturing operation.

Reporting to a national operations leader, this position holds end-to-end accountability for site performance across production, warehousing, dispatch, site services maintenance and engineering activities.

This is an opportunity for a commercially astute operations leader to take ownership of a complex manufacturing environment, build leadership capability and drive sustainable improvements across safety, quality, service, cost and people performance.

The role

As the senior operational leader on site, you will translate broader business plans into effective daily execution while developing an engaged, capable and accountable workforce.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Leading daily production, warehousing and dispatch operations

Ensuring production plans, customer service requirements and quality standards are consistently achieved

Managing labour, operational expenditure, productivity, yield and waste against budget

Establishing clear operational KPIs and driving accountability across the site leadership team

Optimising shift structures, labour deployment, line configurations and changeover practices

Maintaining high standards of food safety, product quality, hygiene and audit readiness

Leading site safety performance, risk management and compliance activities

Working with maintenance teams to improve plant reliability and minimise unplanned downtime

Owning inventory accuracy, finished goods management, stock rotation and dispatch performance

Developing and delivering a structured site continuous improvement plan

Identifying opportunities to reduce cost, eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency

Supporting new product trials, product launches and capital projects

Leading workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management and succession planning

Building effective relationships with customers, suppliers, auditors, regulators and internal support functions

Providing clear reporting on site performance, emerging risks and operational priorities

About you

You are an experienced manufacturing leader who is comfortable balancing strategic priorities with the practical demands of a busy, multi-shift operation.

You will ideally bring:

At least five years’ experience in a senior operations or site leadership position

Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG, chilled foods, meat or smallgoods manufacturing

Demonstrated responsibility for production, warehousing and operational performance

Strong leadership experience, including leading frontline teams and developing other leaders

Proven budget ownership and experience managing labour and operational expenditure

Sound knowledge of GMP, HACCP, quality assurance and food safety systems

Practical knowledge of workplace health and safety obligations

A strong record of improving productivity, controlling costs and delivering sustainable operational improvements

Well-developed analytical, planning and problem-solving skills

Experience using production management or ERP systems and Microsoft Office

Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or structured continuous improvement practices

A relevant tertiary qualification, or equivalent demonstrated industry experience

A current Australian driver’s licence and unrestricted working rights in Australia

Leadership style

To succeed in this role, you will be a visible and credible leader who:

Sets clear expectations and follows through on commitments

Places people safety, food quality and compliance at the centre of decision making

Builds accountability without losing fairness or respect

Engages effectively with employees at every level of the operation

Uses operational and financial data to guide decisions

Addresses problems at their root cause rather than treating symptoms

Remains calm and constructive when priorities change or issues escalated

Communicates confidently with frontline employees, senior leaders, customers and auditors

What’s on offer

A senior, whole-of-site leadership position

Broad operational ownership and decision-making responsibility

The opportunity to shape site culture, capability and performance

Exposure to national business functions and cross-site improvement initiatives

A practical environment where operational leadership can make a measurable impact

A competitive remuneration package aligned with the scope and seniority of the role

The successful candidate will need to be available outside standard business hours when required to support the operation and may occasionally be required to travel interstate.