Team Leader - SP1 (AM) - Value Add

Hazeldenes Chicken Farm; Bendigo; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hazeldenes Chicken Farm, a long‑established poultry producer in regional Victoria, seeks a Team Leader to ensure effective use of staff and resources on the production floor. You will lead by example, supervise daily operations, and drive throughput, quality, and safety standards.

This role focuses on an on-floor presence (about 75%), training and mentoring staff, conducting performance reviews, and collaborating with HR.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in manufacturing or production environments.
• Strong people management and mentoring skills.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and GMP standards.
• Ability to collaborate with HR and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor and lead by example.
• Ensure production schedules are executed with throughput, quality, and safety targets.
• Address operational issues and support machine performance and reliability.
• Supervise and train employees, monitor performance, and develop staff.
• Foster a positive, inclusive culture with open communication and accountability.
• Manage breaks and labour distribution to optimise efficiency.
• Participate in performance management and disciplinary processes with HR.
• Champion safety walks, incident reporting and compliance with OHS regulations.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and timely documentation of reports.

Job description

With over 80 years of proud history, Hazeldenes is more than just a name in poultry - we're a trusted household brand driven by innovation, quality, and community. From our humble beginnings in Kangaroo Flat to our world-class operations across regional Victoria, we've built a legacy powered by passionate people.

At Hazeldenes, you'll be part of a diverse team doing extraordinary things - whether it's on the farm, in production, or behind the scenes in engineering, logistics, and beyond. We value every background, every skillset, and every individual who contributes to our success.

Grow your career. Be part of something bigger. Join Hazeldenes.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

The Team Leader is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of employee skills and resources within their respective department. This is achieved by fostering a cohesive team environment, establishing trust, and developing strong working relationships with employees. The Team Leader provides hands-on leadership, ensures compliance with safety and quality standards, and actively mentors employees to enhance their skills and engagement.

In this role, the Team Leader will be responsible for supervising daily operations, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and supporting company goals through structured planning and execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This role should typically be completed as a mix of on/off floor activities, however it is considered to be at least 75% (5-6 hours per day) on-floor role.

Operational Leadership

• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor, actively engaging in processes to lead by example.
• Ensure the execution of production schedules, meeting throughput, quality, and safety standards.
• Address and escalation any operational issues that may impact performance or efficiency.
• Support machine performance and reliability through effective issue escalation and resolution processes.
• Supervise, train, and mentor employees, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
• Conduct on-the-job training, performance monitoring, and employee development initiatives.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work culture, encouraging open communication and accountability.
• Monitor team rotations, manage breaks, and optimize labor distribution for efficiency.
• Participate in performance management processes, including feedback and disciplinary procedures in collaboration with HR.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and enforce workplace safety, ensuring adherence to OHS regulations.
• Complete safety walks, incident reporting, and support injured workers as per Return to Work Plans.
• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and other industry-specific safety and quality regulations.
• Support animal welfare practices in accordance with industry and company standards.

Strategic & Continuous Improvement

• Assist in departmental planning, goal setting, and implementation of change management initiatives.
• Identify and develop potential future leaders through coaching and mentoring.
• Participate in continuous improvement efforts, sharing insights and solutions for process enhancements.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation of operational, safety, and performance reports.

Values & Culture

• Demonstrate and uphold Hazeldenes' values, including integrity, quality, safety, and innovation.
• Cultivate a diverse and inclusive work environment, fostering team cohesion and engagement.
• Champion employee well-being and proactively address concerns impacting team morale and performance.

Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and may change from time to time based on business needs. Employees may be required to perform additional tasks as directed by management.