Operations Manager

Kwetta; Napier; On-site; NZD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Share Options (ESOP)

Southern Cross health insurance

Wellbeing allowance

Relocation support

Job summary

Kwetta is building the world-class manufacturing operation behind next-gen ultra-fast EV chargers. The role leads Production and Procurement, shaping systems, processes and leadership to scale globally.

You’ll work across Engineering, Product, Procurement, Sales and Service to align objectives and deliver robust, scalable operations. The position is based in Napier, Hawke's Bay, with exposure to offshore manufacturing and a strong focus on continuous improvement, Lean, and Six Sigma principles.

Qualifications

• Have led complex manufacturing environments with empowered teams.
• Experience building repeatable manufacturing systems for scaling high-value products.
• Proven track record implementing and embedding MRP/ERP in operations.
• Experience establishing or scaling offshore manufacturing, ideally in Europe, with quality and cross-border coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead Production and Procurement with systems and capability to scale.
• Collaborate with Engineering on manufacturability and with senior leadership on growth strategy.
• Coordinate across Production, Engineering, Procurement, Sales and Service as one team.
• Build and refine lean processes, reduce waste, and improve throughput.
• Scale globally while maintaining quality and cost discipline.

Skills

Ops management

High mix manufacturing

MRP/ERP systems

Offshore manufacturing

Strategic leadership

Continuous improvement

Electrical manufacturing (advantage)

Tools

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

$170,000 - $200,000 based on experience + ESOP + Southern Cross Health Insurance

Build the manufacturing engine behind the future of EV charging.

We're Kwetta. We build ultra-fast EV chargers that unlock power already sitting in the grid, so fleets can go electric in months, not years. We've built something special. Now we're looking for someone to help build the world‑class manufacturing operation that will allow us to scale globally.

What you’ll be doing:

This is a hands‑on leadership role with a clear mandate: build the structure, systems and capability that allow our manufacturing operation to scale.

You’ll be just as comfortable on the workshop floor understanding how work really flows as you are coaching your leaders, strengthening our supply chain, collaborating with Engineering on manufacturability, or sitting with the senior leadership team shaping the next phase of Kwetta's growth.

You'll lead Production and Procurement while building the systems, capability and leadership that enable us to scale without losing the pragmatism that got us here. You'll work across every part of the business because great manufacturing doesn't happen in isolation. It happens when Production, Engineering, Procurement, Sales and Service move as one team.

This is a role that will grow alongside the business. As Kwetta expands globally, you'll have the opportunity to influence how we manufacture, build capability and scale, helping shape one of the world's most exciting manufacturing operations in the electrification industry.

What we’re looking for:

• An experienced manufacturing Operations Manager who has led complex manufacturing environments and built exceptional, empowered teams that consistently deliver.
• Deep experience in high mix, high value manufacturing. This is your sweet spot. You understand the unique operational challenges of building technically complex products and know how to create repeatable manufacturing systems that enable them to scale.
• Proven experience implementing and successfully operating MRP/ERP systems. You’ve led an implementation, embedded it into the operation, and bring the practical learnings that come from making these systems work in the real world.
• Experience establishing or scaling offshore manufacturing capability, ideally in Europe. You understand what it takes to build manufacturing capability across borders while maintaining quality, consistency and connection with the wider business.
• A strategic, collaborative leader. You think strategically, act pragmatically, and bring people together because you know the best outcomes come from Engineering, Product, Procurement, Sales and Service working as one team.
• A continuous improvement mindset. Whether through Lean, Six Sigma or your own experience, you're always looking for smarter, simpler and more effective ways of working without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• An electrical manufacturing background would be an advantage, but it's not a prerequisite. If you've built your career in other technically complex manufacturing environments, we'd still love to hear from you.

What you’ll get:

• A career-defining opportunity. Build the world‑class manufacturing operation behind one of the most exciting companies in electrification, and leave a lasting mark on how Kwetta scales globally.
• A genuine leadership role. As a member of our senior leadership team, you'll help shape the future of the business, not just Operations.
• Ownership and autonomy. We'll give you the context, trust and freedom to make decisions, improve how we operate, and build something you're proud of.
• Employee Share Options (ESOP). We want you to share in the value you help create as Kwetta grows.
• A one team culture. Work alongside smart, humble people who genuinely enjoy solving hard problems together. No egos, no silos, just one team working towards a shared mission.
• A lifestyle that's hard to beat. Build globally significant technology while enjoying a life outside work. Forget Auckland or Wellington traffic. In Napier you're five minutes from work, and almost everything in Hawke's Bay is within 20 minutes. That means more time for family, kids' sport, the beach, mountain biking, wineries, or simply getting home for dinner.
• A competitive package. Including a negotiable salary, Southern Cross Wellbeing One health insurance for you and your direct family, a $500 annual health and wellbeing allowance, and up to $4,000 towards relocation.

"There aren't many places where Production, Engineering and the founders solve problems together." – Production Team Member

If you bring big ambition, low ego, and believe the best outcomes happen when everyone pulls in the same direction, we'd love to hear from you.

7 Sheffield Place, Onekawa, Napier.