Production Manager - Flexible Packaging Line

Abbott Laboratories; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Laboratories in New Zealand seeks a Production Manager based in Pokeno, Waikato, to lead the dairy production plant and drive overall performance. The role requires steering multiple shifts, maintaining quality, and fostering a safe, compliant working environment.

You will be accountable for H&S, process reliability, and meeting ISO standards, while developing teams and ensuring efficient deployment of staff across shifts.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and team development experience.
• Solid understanding of food safety and HACCP systems.
• Dairy manufacturing process knowledge is essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the production line and ensure 24/7 operational readiness.
• Uphold health, safety and environmental policies across shifts.
• Drive process reliability and adherence to quality standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Food safety knowledge

HACCP

Education

Tertiary degree or Diploma

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people's health. We're always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.

Our Nutrition business develops science-based nutrition products for people of all ages, from helping babies and children grow, to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions of people around the world count on our leading brands, including Similac®, PediaSure®, Pedialyte®, Ensure® and Glucerna®, to help get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest life.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You will have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Benefits that support you and your family to stay healthy, financially secure, and supported throughout life's journey, including comprehensive medical insurance coverage, wellbeing support, and competitive rewards that recognize your contributions.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.

The Opportunity

As the Production Manager, you will lead the Production Plant or line(s) and be responsible for overall performance.

What You'll Do

• This role has 24-hour, multiple shift accountability for the business results and capability of the production line.
• Accountable for H&S performance, practices and culture across the production line and teams.
• Accountable for process reliability.
• Accountable for delivering the deployed targets.
• Accountable for deploying and delivering standards.
• Accountable for team development, succession planning, capability build and talent management.
• Accountable for meeting people engagement targets and effective and efficient deployment of employees across the shifts.
• Accountable for product quality measures, quality performance, practices, standards, and culture across the production line.
• On-call duties likely to be required to support the 24/7 nature of the business.
• Attend regular departmental meetings with relevant manager/supervisor to build in continuous feedback mechanisms.
• Meet the requirements of ISO by complying with all relevant Quality policies and procedures to ensure the Quality objectives of the business are met.
• Comply with all relevant company Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental policies, procedures, and work practices with the intent of preventing or minimising accidental exposures to self, colleagues and/or the environment.
• Ensure any PPE provided by Abbott is worn and maintained.
• Report any accidents or incidents within 24 hours through allocated system and notify your manager.
• Ensure all activities carried out by self and others are in accordance with legislative employment policies, health & safety requirements and global policy.
• Promote a standard of excellence for quality and customer focus at Abbott.
• Uphold the Abbott Code of Business Conduct.
• Live our Abbott Values – Pioneering, Achieving, Caring, Enduring.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Abbott standard operating procedures and policies and always ensure compliance.
• Ensure your Company related activities comply with relevant Acts, legal demands and ethical standards.
• Ensure the timely completion of the timesheet via allocated system.
• Completion of all assigned Training to this role before the scheduled due date is mandatory.

Requirements

• Tertiary degree, diploma, or minimum 5 years in a dairy manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years in FMCG operations preferably in a Nutritional Plant.
• Experience in leading, developing and engaging teams.
• Proven understanding of dairy manufacturing processes and systems.
• Proven knowledge of Food Safety and HACCP systems.

Location

This position is based in Pokeno, Waikato.

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

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