Assistant Production Leader

Sanford; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanford in New Zealand is seeking an experienced Assistant Production Leader for our Bluff Salmon Processing Facility. You will work closely with the Production Leader to oversee day-to-day operations, ensure safety, quality and on-time production, and provide hands-on leadership to the processing team.

You will mentor Team Leaders, monitor throughput and yields, drive continuous improvement, and step in as Production Leader when required.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in manufacturing/processing environments.
• Strong understanding of day-to-day production execution and labor deployment.
• Experience using production data to identify issues and drive improvement.
• Practical, solution-focused approach to operational problems.
• Solid understanding of food safety, quality and health & safety in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day coordination of production across processing and packing areas.
• Ensure labour, equipment and workflows align with production plans.
• Coaching and developing Team Leaders; build confidence and accountability.
• Monitor performance: throughput, yield, labour efficiency, quality, downtime.
• Drive continuous improvement and standardised work practices (SOPs).
• Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, and operational cleanliness.
• Provide health and safety leadership across the operation.
• Act as delegated cover for Production Leader when required.

Skills

Leadership experience

Production execution

Performance data

Problem solving

Food safety

Communication

Education

Manufacturing/Operations degree

HACCP knowledge

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Lead people. Drive performance. Make a difference.

We’re looking for an experienced operational leader to join our Bluff Salmon Processing Facility as Assistant Production Leader.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced production or processing leader who is ready to take the next step in their career and play a key role in the day-to-day leadership and performance of our processing operation.

Working closely with the Production Leader, you’ll provide hands‑on operational leadership across our processing site to ensure production plans, quality standards and safety expectations are consistently achieved.

As the delegated deputy for the production function, you’ll also step into the Production Leader role when required, providing leadership continuity, making operational decisions and working collaboratively with teams across the business to keep things moving.

What you’ll be responsible for

You’ll play a key role in ensuring our production operation runs safely, efficiently and effectively. This will include:

• Leading the day‑to‑day coordination of production across processing and packing areas.
• Ensuring labour, equipment and workflows are aligned with production plans.
• Leading, coaching and developing our Team Leaders, building their confidence, capability and accountability.
• Monitoring production performance, including throughput, yield, labour efficiency, quality and downtime.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives and reinforcing standardised work practises and SOPs.
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, quality, housekeeping and operational hygiene.
• Providing visible and proactive health and safety leadership across the production operation.
• Acting as delegated cover for the Production Leader, including responsibility for operational decision‑making, approvals and production leadership within agreed delegations.

About you

We’re looking for someone who combines strong operational leadership with a genuine ability to lead and develop people.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Leadership experience in a manufacturing or processing environment, preferably within the food or primary industries.
• A strong understanding of day‑to‑day production execution, labour deployment and workflow coordination.
• Experience using production data and performance measures to identify issues and drive improvement.
• A practical, solutions‑focused approach to operational problem‑solving.
• A sound understanding of food safety, quality and health & safety requirements within a regulated environment.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to work effectively across different teams and levels of the organisation.
• The confidence and judgement to make decisions, manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure.

A qualification in Manufacturing, Management, Finance, Operations, or a similarly related field is desirable. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Food safety/HACCP certification or a willingness to obtain it is required.

This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership role within a well-established New Zealand primary industry business and make a real impact on the performance of our Bluff operation.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Work alongside an experienced Production Leader and site leadership team.
• Lead and develop a team of frontline leaders.
• Influence production performance and continuous improvement.
• Broaden your operational leadership experience across a complex processing environment.

If you’re an experienced production leader who enjoys being close to the operation, developing people and finding better ways of doing things, we’ll love to hear from you.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand indefinitely. Our recruitment process includes pre‑engagement checks including a criminal history check, drug and alcohol testing, and a medical assessment.