Production Team Leader

Suntory Beverage & Food Limited; Ōtara-Papatoetoe; Hybrid; NZD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free parking on site

Volunteer leave

Parental leave policy

Job summary

Suntory Oceania is hiring an experienced Production Team Leader in Auckland. You will lead a production team in a fast-paced FMCG environment, ensuring safe, efficient and high-quality manufacturing operations while delivering targets.

You will work closely with Planning, Quality, Engineering, Logistics and People & Performance to manufacture products safely, efficiently and to specification. Strong leadership, shift-based experience and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential.

Qualifications

• Previous leadership experience within a manufacturing or FMCG environment.
• Experience working in food, beverage or consumer goods production operations.
• Strong people leadership capabilities, including coaching, performance management and team development.
• Experience operating within a shift-based manufacturing environment.
• An understanding of quality systems, continuous improvement methodologies and operational performance management.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple functions.
• Experience with PLC systems or automated manufacturing environments would be highly regarded.
• A commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a production operators team to achieve targets.
• Drive training, performance management and workforce planning to build capability.
• Maintain a strong safety culture and comply with health, safety and quality requirements.
• Monitor line performance, productivity, labour utilisation and waste reduction.
• Ensure production plans meet quality and customer service standards.
• Lead daily team meetings and drive accountability for results.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and root cause analysis across operations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to resolve issues and improve performance.
• Support new product introductions, process improvements and trials.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Manufacturing operations

Stakeholder management

PLC systems

Tools

PLC systems

Job description

Welcome to Suntory Oceania | Nau mai ki Suntory Oceania

Bringing the best of Suntory to Oceania.

By harnessing the best of Suntory from across Australia and New Zealand, Suntory Global Spirits and Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania have created a multi-beverage powerhouse – Suntory Oceania.

Our 40 market-leading brands, including Jim Beam® and Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Hibiki® Japanese Whisky, Canadian Club® Whisky, -196, V Energy, Maximus, and Suntory BOSS Coffee, are powered by five distribution centres, more than 1,500 Suntorians and two local manufacturing sites. With full end-to-end control of our portfolio, we pioneer new beverage experiences, inspired by innovation and craftsmanship.

What is the opportunity? | He aha te kōwhiringa?

We are looking for an experienced Production Team Leader to join our Auckland manufacturing team.

This is a hands-on leadership opportunity where you'll lead a production team in a fast-paced FMCG environment, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing operations. You will be responsible for delivering production targets while building a high-performing, engaged team and driving continuous improvement across the production environment

As a key leader within our Supply Chain function, you'll work closely with Planning, Quality, Engineering, Logistics and People & Performance teams to ensure products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and to specification.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of production operators
• Building capability through training, performance management and workforce planning
• Driving a strong safety culture and ensuring compliance with all health, safety and quality requirements
• Monitoring and improving line performance, productivity, labour utilisation and waste reduction
• Ensuring production plans are achieved while maintaining quality and customer service standards
• Leading daily team meetings and driving accountability for operational results
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives, root cause analysis and problem-solving activities
• Partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to resolve operational issues and improve performance
• Supporting new product introductions, process improvements and manufacturing trials

About you | Nō hea koe

To be successful in this role, you'll bring proven production leadership experience and a passion for developing people.

You'll be someone who thrives on the manufacturing floor, enjoys solving problems, and can balance operational priorities while fostering a positive, high-performing team culture.

Ideally, you'll have:

• Previous leadership experience within a manufacturing or FMCG environment
• Experience working within food, beverage or consumer goods production operations
• Strong people leadership capabilities, including coaching, performance management and team development
• Experience operating within a shift-based manufacturing environment
• An understanding of quality systems, continuous improvement methodologies and operational performance management
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple functions
• Experience with PLC systems or automated manufacturing environments would be highly regarded
• A commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement

If you’re not an expert in all these areas, don’t worry! A lot of what we look for is how you would align with our values and your ability to utilise your unique skills and experience.

What’s in it for you? I He aha te mea e whiwhi ai koe?

• Grow your career – we like to promote from within and have incredible learning and development opportunities around the world
• Generous incentive to reward your hard work
• An inclusive parental leave policy for both primary and secondary caregivers
• Gradual return to work to help you transition back from parental leave
• Flexible working – flexible hours and hybrid working
• Free parking on site
• We are committed to giving back to our communities, so we provide you with volunteer leave to do so
• A Suntory Day – enjoy your birthday off!

Our DEI Commitment | Tō mātou kaingākau ki te Kanorau, te Mana Ōrite me te Kotahitanga.

At Suntory, we recognise that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavour to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.

If you're an experienced manufacturing leader who enjoys developing people, driving operational excellence and creating a safe, high-performing workplace, we'd love to hear from you.