Plant Manager Levin

Alliance Group; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

1 week extra Annual Leave

Health Insurance subsidies

Job summary

Alliance Group in Levin, NZ, seeks an experienced Plant Manager to lead the Levin meat processing operation. Reporting to the Operations Director, this senior role ensures safe, efficient, compliant and commercially successful performance.

You’ll lead the plant leadership team, drive safety culture, productivity and quality, manage budgets and maintenance, and build a high-performing, values-led team across site functions.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in a complex food processing environment.
• Proven history of leading large operational teams and delivering cultural transformation.
• Strong capability across production, engineering, maintenance, supply chain and continuous improvement.
• Experience managing large operating budgets and capital expenditure.
• Experience working effectively in unionised environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the plant leadership team and wider workforce to achieve strategic objectives.
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing and drive continuous improvement in safety culture.
• Deliver site performance targets across safety, productivity, quality, cost and contribution.
• Ensure food safety, product quality and regulatory standards are met.
• Oversee production planning, capacity utilisation and scheduling.
• Manage plant assets, maintenance systems and reliability.

Skills

Senior leadership

Health & safety

Budgeting

Stakeholder mgmt

Union experience

Education

Engineering degree

MBA

Tools

Maintenance systems

Job description

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Alliance Group – Wellington Central, North Island

At Alliance we’re a purpose-driven, global supplier of premium grass-fed lamb, beef and venison. We’re proud to support our people, farming families and communities while delivering safe, high-quality food to customers around the world. Withsitesacross the North and South Islands,we’refocused onperformanceimprovement, innovation, and reducing our environmental impact.

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Plant Manager to lead our Levin meat processing operation. Reporting to the Operations Director, this is a senior leadership role responsible for the safe, efficient, compliant and commercially successful operation of the site. You’ll lead the plant leadership team and workforce to deliver strong performance across health, safety and wellbeing, production, quality, yield, cost, compliance and customer requirements. You’ll also play a key role in building an engaged, capable and high-performing team that supports Alliance’s long-term success.

This is a permanent, full time role based in Levin; however, we welcome applications from across New Zealand. For the right candidate, relocation assistance may be available to support your move.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and motivating the plant leadership team and wider workforce to achieve strategic and operational objectives
• Championing health, safety and wellbeing and driving continuous improvement in safety culture and performance
• Delivering agreed site performance targets across safety, productivity, quality, cost and contribution
• Ensuring food safety, product quality, environmental and regulatory standards are consistently achieved
• Leading operational excellence, continuous improvement and root cause problem-solving initiatives
• Overseeing effective production planning, capacity utilisation, scheduling and forward loading requirements
• Ensuring plant assets, engineering and maintenance systems support operational reliability and food safety
• Managing operating and capital budgets, financial reporting and cost improvement initiatives
• Building strong relationships across Alliance functions, external stakeholders and unionised environments

About You

You’re a commercially astute operational leader with significant experience in complex food processing environments. You’re confident leading large teams, setting clear expectations, driving performance and building a positive, engaged workplace culture.

You’ll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex food processing environment
• A proven history of leading large operational teams and delivering cultural transformation
• Strong capability across production, engineering, maintenance, supply chain and continuous improvement environments
• Demonstrated success improving health and safety performance through robust management systems
• Experience managing large operating budgets, capital expenditure and financial performance
• Experience working effectively in unionised environments
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, problem-solving and change leadership skills
• A tertiary qualification in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Processing, Business or a related discipline is desirable
• A post-graduate business qualification, such as an MBA or equivalent, would be advantageous

What’s in it for you?

• A senior site leadership role with significant influence across our Levin operation
• The opportunity to lead a capable team and shape a high-performance, values-led culture
• A role where safety, quality, operational excellence and commercial outcomes genuinely matter
• Supportive, values-led culture
• 1 week extra Annual Leave
• Health Insurance subsidies for you and your family

About the Town

Levin is a thriving town of approximately 20,500 people and the commercial heart of the Horowhenua District, offering the perfect blend of career opportunity, affordability, and lifestyle. With stunning natural surroundings and major centres of Wellington and Palmerston North within easy reach, Levin offers the space to build both a rewarding career and a great lifestyle.

Levin is a place where you can enjoy the benefits of regional living without compromising on opportunity. Residents enjoy easy access to a wide range of recreational activities, including Lake Horowhenua, nearby beaches, walking and cycling trails, rivers, forest parks, golf courses, and a vibrant local events calendar. With affordable housing, excellent outdoor amenities, and a family-friendly atmosphere, Levin is an ideal place to live, work, and enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

Sound like your kind of role?

If you’re ready to lead a major processing operation and make a meaningful impact across people, performance safety and quality,

We look forward to hearing from you.

Relocation assistance may be offered for the successful applicant if they are relocating.

With our ongoing commitment towards health and safety, you’ll undergo a pre-employment drug test that will form part of your application.

As part of this recruitment process, we are seeking new applicants. Those who applied for the role previously do not need to submit a further application.