Production Technical Lead

Westland Milk Products; Hokitika, Christchurch; Remote; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Westland Milk Products is seeking a Production Technical Lead to provide expert technical leadership across dairy manufacturing operations. You will own production recipes, process parameters and technical standards while guiding teams through process challenges and delivering continuous improvement initiatives.

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will collaborate with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Automation and Engineering to ensure compliance, food safety, and high standards of

Qualifications

• You are a technically strong manufacturing professional with several years’ experience in dairy or food production environments.
• You translate process design and quality requirements into practical, operational outcomes.
• You use data and structured problem-solving to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical leadership across dairy manufacturing operations.
• Own production recipes, process parameters and technical standards.
• Lead troubleshooting activities and drive continuous improvements to reduce variability and protect product quality.

Skills

Process control

Data analysis

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Tools

SCADA

Microsoft Excel

Job description

As the Production Technical Lead, you will play a key role in providing expert technical leadership across our dairy manufacturing operations, ensuring processes are stable, compliant and continuously optimised. You will own production recipes, process parameters and technical standards, while leading troubleshooting activities and driving improvements that reduce variability and protect product quality.

Reporting directly to the Production Manager, you will work closely alongside Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Automation and Engineering teams. Acting as the technical authority on site, you will support day-to-day production execution, guide teams through process challenges and contribute to the successful delivery of continuous improvement initiatives.

A bit about you

You are a technically strong manufacturing professional with several years’ experience in dairy or food production environments, bringing a proven ability to translate process design and quality requirements into practical, operational outcomes. You are confident working with process control systems, using data and structured problem-solving to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.

You thrive in a fast-paced production setting, with a collaborative approach and a passion for coaching others to build technical capability. You are known for your sound judgement, your ability to influence across teams and your commitment to maintaining high standards of food safety, quality and compliance.

A bit about the organisation

Westland Milk Products is a well-known New Zealand end-to-end dairy manufacturer based in the beautiful South Island with offices and production facilities based in both Christchurch and Hokitika.

Owned by the Global Top 5 dairy company Yili Group, Westland Milk Products and its related companies in New Zealand, Oceania Dairy (Glenavy), Pure Nutrition (Rolleston), Canary Foods (Hamilton) and EasiYo (Auckland) form a group that we refer to as the Yili Oceania group. The combined business produces over 170,000mt of finished goods which are then exported to over 40 countries, driving annual revenue well in excess of $1.3B – and growing.

Applications close on the 22nd November 2026. Please note that this advertisement may close earlier than the listed closing date if a suitable candidate is identified. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be conducted earlier than the closing date.

Applicants must have valid work rights in New Zealand to be considered.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may close the role early if a suitable candidate is found. We encourage early applications.