Process Manager / Senior Process Manager

ofi; Tokoroa; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

ofi is seeking a Process Manager / Senior Manager to lead on-site processing operations at our Tokoroa, NZ plant. You will drive continuous improvement, ensure safety, quality, and environmental obligations are met while delivering key manufacturing KPIs.

This role partners with Supply Chain, HR, and our global product innovation team to optimise product launches, scale operations, and maintain strong customer collaborations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in manufacturing or processing leadership, with at least 5 years in MPC production.
• Experience with membrane and advanced filtration technology.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of Safety Management Systems relevant to the role and safe work practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement critical process recipes defining targeted product outcomes (functional attributes).
• Lead capital projects and process changes (SOPs) to optimize throughput, yields, and product time.
• Develop process signatures and controls delivering customer-defined functional properties.
• Act as customer conduit translating needs into operational excellence.
• Collaborate with HR to develop training programs and standardize SOPs.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

Milk Protein Concentrates MPC

Process improvement

SAP

Education

Engineering / Food Technology or related field

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

About Us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Dairy

Dairy products have long been a nutritious part of diets worldwide. We keep dairy moving around the world with our supply chain expertise and on-the-ground capabilities. Our dairy supply chain and operations span 25 countries across 6 continents, with an estimated 300,000 cows producing the milk needed for our ingredients. Most of our dairy ingredients are sourced from a portfolio of manufacturers and suppliers across North America, South America, Europe, and Oceania.

Date: 13 Sept 2026
Country: New Zealand
Location: Tokoroa, NZ
Function: Operations

About Us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Dairy

Dairy products have long been a nutritious part of diets worldwide. We keep dairy moving around the world with our supply chain expertise and on-the-ground capabilities. Our dairy supply chain and operations span 25 countries across 6 continents, with an estimated 300,000 cows producing the milk needed for our ingredients. Most of our dairy ingredients are sourced from a portfolio of manufacturers and suppliers across North America, South America, Europe, and Oceania.

ofi’s

first dairy production facility is in Johor, producing filled milk powder and blended dairy ingredients. Our Malaysia plant is also the heart of dairy innovation, developing customized dairy solutions for fast-growing markets in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

ofi’s

second dairy production facility is in Tokoroa, close to hundreds of quality dairy farms in the Waikato region – the heartland of New Zealand’s dairy industry. Today, we partner with more than 100 dairy farmers who supply raw milk to our plant.

We strive to provide solutions for our customers that deliver environmental benefits while minimizing industry challenges. Our biomass boiler and animal feed, formulated with almond by-product for dairy cows in New Zealand, are excellent examples of this ambition

Job Description

The Process Manager / Senior Manager reports to the Site Manager. He/she is responsible for leading and supporting end-to-end processing operations on-site to ensure production targets, quality standards, safety, and environmental obligations are met. Key technical role for the New Zealand (NZ) Dairy value-added program including primary technical contact for Teir 1 customers. The role focuses on continuous improvement, asset performance, team capability, and delivery of key manufacturing KPIs in line with business strategy.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and implement critical process recipes which define the targeted product outcomes (functional attributes)
• Lead and recommend capital projects and process changes (SOP’s) that ensure throughput, yields, product time are optimised against “delivering best quality product” every time while enabling product mix agility.
• Develop a set of “process signatures” and controls that deliver the functional properties defined by the customer.
• Act as the customer conduit representing their explicit need and translating to “operational” excellence.
• Where an opportunity presents share operations best practices across ofi’s manufacturing network (dairy and non-dairy)
• Develop strong relations with ofi’s global product innovation team.
• Lead product trials and commercialisation programs.
• Participate and customer onboarding and product qualification processes
• Own the operations relationship with key strategic customer partners (full value chain).
• Lead - Ensure the effective execution of the production plan provided by the Supply Chain (SC) team.
• Collaborate with HR to develop training programs.
• Maintain current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with regular reviews as directed by the Site Manager.
• Develop new SOPs as needed, particularly during periods of growth.

Requirements

• Tertiary qualifications desired in Engineering, Food Technology, Science, or related field
• 10+ years’ experience in manufacturing or processing leadership with at least 5 years’ experience in Milk Protien Concentrates (MPC) production
• Specific process improvement experience with membrane and advanced filtration technology
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to build capability and engage teams.
• Strong understanding of food processing operations and quality systems.
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Understand Safety Management Systems relevant to the role, work in a safe manner to ensure you don’t put yourself or others at risk and proactively raise and address issues.
• Experience with SAP or other ERP systems.
• Dairy industry experience strongly preferred.
• Project management experience advantageous.
• Ability to be based in our plant at Tokoroa, New Zealand

ofi

is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to racial or ethnic origin, color, age, religion or belief, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.