Operations Manager - Converting

Essity; Kawerau District; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Essity Kawerau is seeking an Operations Manager to lead Converting operations and drive safe, efficient production with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement. You will translate priorities into clear goals for ~90 staff and operational leaders, shaping long-term site strategy while collaborating across functions.

You will deliver annual operating plans, develop leaders, manage performance data, and ensure on-spec, on-time delivery at target costs.

Qualifications

• Engineering qualification required.
• “10 years” line management experience in a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading leaders and operational teams in a multi-shift manufacturing setting.
• Proven track record delivering improvements in safety, quality, productivity, efficiency and cost.
• Experience implementing or embedding significant operational or organizational change.
• Understanding of continuous improvement methodologies and manufacturing excellence.
• Strong commercial judgement and ability to translate business objectives into operational priorities.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and influence across functions.
• Commitment to coaching and developing others.

Responsibilities

• Lead health, safety and environmental culture on the factory floor with visible leadership.
• Deliver the Converting annual business plan across production, quality, cost, efficiency and reliability.
• Coach and develop Resource Support and Shift/Line leadership teams, building capability at all levels.
• Create a high-performing, team-based culture with clear priorities and accountability for improvements.
• Champion continuous improvement to reduce losses, waste and downtime.
• Monitor performance and use data to identify gaps and opportunities.
• Collaborate with maintenance, supply chain, quality and paper manufacturing to optimise end-to-end performance.
• Support maintenance strategies and capital projects within Converting.
• Ensure safe, on-time delivery to specification and cost targets.
• Build relationships across site and wider business to consider upstream/downstream impacts.
• Contribute to Kawerau site's medium- to longer-term strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Continuous improvement

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

SAP

Job description

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader who knows how to bring together people, performance and continuous improvement?

We're looking for an Operations Manager to lead our Converting operations at Essity's Kawerau manufacturing site. Reporting to the Site Manager and forming part of the Site Leadership Team, this is a key leadership role with accountability for the safe, efficient and reliable performance of a significant manufacturing operation.

You'll lead through others, build capability across your teams and create an environment where people are engaged in delivering strong results and finding better ways of working.

About The Role

You'll have overall responsibility for delivering the annual operating plan across safety, environment, quality, production, cost and operational efficiency.

Leading a team of operational leaders and approximately 90 employees across the wider function, you'll translate site and business priorities into clear goals and ensure your teams have the capability, information and support they need to deliver.

As a member of the Site Leadership Team, you'll play an important role in shaping the longer-term direction of the Kawerau site, developing our people, strengthening our operating systems and identifying opportunities to improve the performance and capability of the operation.

What You Will Do

• Lead a strong health, safety and environmental culture, with visible leadership on the factory floor and a focus on preventing harm.
• Deliver the Converting annual business plan across production, quality, cost, efficiency, utilisation and reliability.
• Lead, coach and develop the Resource Support and Shift/Line leadership teams, building capability and accountability at every level.
• Create a high-performing, team-based culture where people understand priorities and are empowered to improve how work gets done.
• Champion continuous improvement, using structured problem-solving and manufacturing excellence practices to reduce losses, waste and downtime.
• Monitor operational performance and use data to identify gaps, priorities and improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with maintenance, supply chain, quality, paper manufacturing and other support functions to optimise end-to-end site performance.
• Support maintenance strategies and capital projects within the Converting operation.
• Ensure products are delivered safely, on time, to specification and at an appropriate cost.
• Build effective relationships across the site and wider business, ensuring decisions consider upstream and downstream impacts.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the Kawerau site’s medium and longer-term strategy.

Who You Are

You are an accomplished manufacturing leader who combines strong operational knowledge with the ability to engage, develop and lead people through change.

You’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Significant line management experience, ideally around 10 years, within a continuous, high-volume and complex manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading leaders and operational teams in a multi-shift manufacturing environment.
• A strong track record of delivering improvements in safety, quality, productivity, efficiency and cost.
• Experience implementing or embedding significant operational or organisational change.
• An understanding of continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence methodologies.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to translate broader business objectives into meaningful operational priorities.
• The ability to build trusted relationships and influence effectively across different functions and levels of an organisation.
• A practical, visible leadership style, with a genuine commitment to coaching and developing others.
• Confidence using operational data and systems to make informed decisions and drive performance.

Experience with Lean Manufacturing, SAP, HSE&R/ISO standards or paper manufacturing would be advantageous.

Above all, you'll be someone who takes ownership, sets clear expectations and creates the conditions for others to succeed. You'll be comfortable challenging the status quo, navigating competing priorities and remaining focused when circumstances change.

What We Can Offer You

Our purpose, Breaking Barriers to Well-Being, provides meaning to everything we do. Join us to improve well-being for people and drive positive change for society and the environment. At Essity, you'll feel valued, empowered to grow, and challenged to achieve business results in a collaborative and open atmosphere.

Innovate for Good | Excel Together | Be You With Us

Application End Date: 13 Nov 2026