Packaging Line Manager

LionJob; Howick; On-site; NZD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth on tap

Culture you can feel

Flexibility

Wellbeing matters

Great beer perks

Purpose beyond profit

Iconic brands, real impact

Job summary

Lion is seeking an experienced packaging/production leader to run the can packaging operation at The Pride. You will oversee safety, people, maintenance and productivity across a 24-hour, 5-day operation with four direct reports, driving continuous improvements and capability development.

You will develop frontline leaders, foster a culture of accountability and collaboration, and lead changes across packaging lines to unlock capacity and efficiency while aligning with Lion’s values and goals.

Qualifications

• Experience within FMCG packaging or a similar high-volume packaging environment.
• Proven ability to lead change, improve performance and create accountability while keeping people engaged.
• Strong technical aptitude and practical problem-solving capability within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing frontline leaders and building capable, collaborative teams.
• Exposure to TPM, Lean or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Relevant technical, engineering or manufacturing qualifications or the equivalent experience.
• Comfortable supporting a 24-hour operation and coordinating across shifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging operation at The Pride with accountability for safety, people, maintenance, productivity.
• Manage a 24-hour, 5-day operation with four direct reports (Team Leaders and a Packaging Engineer).
• Drive improvements in productivity, reliability and performance to meet production needs.
• Develop frontline leaders and coach teams through change.
• Oversee operations, maintenance, budgets and safety across can packaging lines.
• Apply technical and problem-solving skills to identify opportunities and deliver improvements.
• Support future Packaging leadership roles with visibility and leadership growth.

Skills

Packaging leadership

Operational excellence

Lean/CI

TPM

Frontline development

Engineering qualifications

Education

Technical/Engineering qualification

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 a key packaging operation at The Pride and make a measurable impact
• Build capability and drive performance across an experienced operational team
• Grow your career with an iconic beverages company with development opportunities on tap

At Lion, we’re all about making the moment mean more. We brew, market and deliver some of Australia and New Zealand’s most loved brands, while building a culture where people can grow, belong and make a real impact.

The Role

Lead performance, develop great people and make your mark at The Pride. This role looks after our can packaging operation at The Pride, with accountability for safety, people, maintenance, productivity and operational performance.

This is a leadership role in a high-profile area of the brewery, with significant volume growth creating an opportunity to improve productivity and unlock greater capacity from our existing operation.

Lead and support a team of four direct reports (Team Leaders and a Packaging Engineer) across our 24-hour, 5-day operation

Drive improvements in productivity, reliability and performance to meet growing production requirements

Build a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement, bringing your team with you through change

Develop and coach our frontline leaders, supporting them to grow their leadership capability and confidence

Oversee operations, maintenance, budgets and safety across the can packaging lines

Apply strong technical and problem-solving capability to identify opportunities and deliver sustainable improvements

For someone looking to broaden their leadership career, this role offers significant visibility, support and the opportunity to develop towards future Packaging leadership roles.

About You

You’re an experienced packaging or production leader who combines strong operational capability with an inclusive and supportive leadership style. You build trust, set clear expectations and are comfortable having constructive conversations to help your team deliver at their best.

Experience within FMCG packaging or a similar high-volume packaging environment

Proven ability to lead change, improve performance and create accountability while keeping people engaged

Strong technical aptitude and practical problem-solving capability within a manufacturing environment

Experience developing frontline leaders and building capable, collaborative teams

Exposure to TPM, Lean or similar continuous improvement methodologies

Relevant technical, engineering or manufacturing qualifications or the equivalent experience

You’ll be comfortable supporting a 24-hour operation, including connecting weekly with leaders across different shifts and acting as an escalation point when significant operational or safety issues arise.

On Offer

• Growth on tap - Whether you’re deepening your craft or exploring something new, Lion offers real opportunities, not just good intentions
• A culture you can feel - Open, inclusive and down-to-earth. We celebrate wins, learn fast, and look out for each other
• Flexibility - Win in both your work and personal life, you don’t have to choose
• Wellbeing matters - From mental health support to wellbeing initiatives, we’re committed to helping you feel your best - at work and outside it
• Great perks (yes, including the beer) - Competitive salary, a bar onsite at our office and access to events and experiences that make working in beer pretty special
• Purpose beyond profit - As part of Lion, we’re committed to sustainability and doing the right thing for our communities and the planet
• Iconic brands, real impact - You’ll be working on brands with history and heart, with the chance to make your mark on what comes next

We’re a certified B Corp, which means we care about people, planet and purpose - not just profit. We’re committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we celebrate the unique perspectives that help us grow and innovate. We intentionally embrace difference and cultivate belonging every day, whether through our investment in our Reconciliation journey through our Innovate RAP, our commitment to gender pay equity or providing progressive people policies.

If you need specific support or accessibility adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know at ***************@lionco.com so we can make sure that your recruitment process is fair and we enable you to shine. This includes tailored support for First Nations people, individuals with disabilities, those who are neurodivergent, and people who identify as transgender or gender diverse as we understand the unique challenges and concerns you may face.