Operations Team Leader

Arnott's Group; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Discounted company products

Job summary

Arnott's Group in Newmarket, NZ, is seeking an Operations Team Leader to manage the afternoon shift, lead packaging teams, and drive safe, efficient manufacturing outcomes. This hands-on leadership role emphasizes teamwork, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement.

You will steer labour rosters, monitor equipment reliability, and collaborate with maintenance on optimising production performance while supporting trials and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within food manufacturing, FMCG, production, or packaging environments.
• Strong people leadership and team development skills.
• Experience managing production targets, labour planning, and operational performance.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical capability.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Experience operating or setting up production machinery.
• Mechanical aptitude and understanding of manufacturing equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop production and packaging teams.
• Drive a strong safety-first culture and ensure compliance with GMP, quality, and food safety standards.
• Deliver production plans and achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Manage labour allocation, rostering, and shift performance.
• Monitor equipment performance and work closely with maintenance teams to improve reliability.
• Support new product trials, process improvements, and capital projects.
• Analyse performance data and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership experience

People leadership

Production targets

Problem-solving

Data-driven

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Production machinery

Mechanical aptitude

Communication skills

Decision-making

Job description

Department: Manufacturing - ANZ

Location: Newmarket, AUK, New Zealand, 1023

Job Function: Supply Chain - ANZ

Employment Type:

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader who thrives on developing people, improving performance, and driving operational excellence?

We are seeking an Operations Team Leader to lead our afternoon shift production and packaging teams. This hands‑on leadership role is responsible for delivering safe, efficient, and high‑quality manufacturing outcomes while fostering a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop production and packaging teams
• Drive a strong safety-first culture and ensure compliance with GMP, quality, and food safety standards
• Deliver production plans and achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets
• Manage labour allocation, rostering, and shift performance
• Monitor equipment performance and work closely with maintenance teams to improve reliability
• Support new product trials, process improvements, and capital projects
• Analyse performance data and implement continuous improvement initiatives

About You

• Proven leadership experience within food manufacturing, FMCG, production, or packaging environments
• Strong people leadership and team development skills
• Experience managing production targets, labour planning, and operational performance
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical capability
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience
• Experience operating or setting up production machinery
• Mechanical aptitude and understanding of manufacturing equipment

What's In It For You?

• Opportunity to lead a passionate and engaged team
• Career development and progression opportunities
• Involvement in continuous improvement and site growth initiatives
• Free onsite parking
• Discounted company products
• Supportive leadership team and positive workplace culture