Chief Executive - Wood Engineering

Populous People Limited; Gisborne; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A groundbreaking manufacturing operation in Gisborne seeks a Chief Executive to lead its innovative initiative in the wood industry. This role requires expertise in manufacturing optimisation, team leadership, and a strong strategic vision to drive significant growth. The ideal candidate will foster relationships from the manufacturing floor to the boardroom while navigating a capital-intensive automated environment. A competitive remuneration package reflects the role's significance and the potential market impact of this opportunity.

Qualifications

• Experience with automation and robotic interfaces.
• Ability to lead a skilled team in a capital-intensive plant.
• Strong relational skills across all organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Ramp up and optimise operational and commercial performance.
• Assure commissioning is completed and operations meet full capacity.
• Develop and lead a world-class team focused on innovation.

Skills

Manufacturing optimisation

Engineering expertise

Leadership

Continuous improvement

Job description

Overview

Populous People Limited is managing the recruitment process on behalf of Wood Engineering Technology. This Chief Executive role is backed by significant and highly regarded shareholders and requires operational and strategic expertise with an engineering lens.

Key advantages

• Excellent remuneration - reflecting the scope and market impact for New Zealand
• Relatability to robotics and automation engineering essential
• Gisborne awaits, and success here will see national roll-out

Role and objectives

This Gisborne-based CE leadership opportunity will place you at the forefront of value creation in a significant sector of the NZ economy, starting on site in Gisborne. From their established site, the investors aim to change the world of wood, with potential roll-out of future sites across NZ and Australia. The rewards and impacts of this role will be significant.

Wood Engineering Technology Gisborne is a groundbreaking advanced manufacturing joint venture. Backed by the parent entity Wood Engineering Technology Ltd (WET), Trust Tairāwhiti and the Crown, this highly automated and sophisticated plant specialises in producing Optimised Engineered Lumber (OEL): a high-grade engineered timber product made from run-of-forest logs.

Responsibilities and focus

We need an experienced strategic executive and manufacturing optimisation expert. You must have an eye for manufacturing and engineering complexities and relate to automated environments. Your overarching role will be to ramp up and optimise the operational and commercial performance of WET Gisborne’s investment to meet the shareholders’ aspirations and market potential. The role requires quickly assimilating across a highly automated 24/7 operation with a skilled team of automation experts. Your strategic lens and performance mindset will be crucial in assuring commissioning is completed, the plant is optimised and the operation moves toward full capacity to meet market potential. Experience with the pace and technology of a capital-intensive plant with significant automation and robotic interfaces will be crucial. You will know what it takes to optimise operations, drive culture and steer overarching commercial strategy and future growth for motivated owners.

Relationships and relatability at all levels are crucial, from the manufacturing floor through to the board room, and beyond to the market. You must be adept at developing and leading a world-class team focused on continuous improvement and innovation. You will partner with a highly engaged board and a driven, capable team to further grow and strengthen the company’s performance and shareholder return.

Apply

If you have the plant and people leadership, market relatability and commercial capacity to lead this world-first, highly innovative operation on the cusp of shifting the value-add for NZ and the broader wood industry, please apply. Remuneration and rewards reflect the significance of this role and the market potential of the wider investment opportunity.

Applications must be sent through this portal or by email to [e-mail]. Alternatively, telephone Rachel Cornwall at Populous People for a confidential discussion to learn more, tel [phone].