Production Operations Manager

Production Operations Manager - FMCG

Location: Southeast Melbourne

We are a well-established FMCG manufacturer supplying national retailers and foodservice partners across Australia.  As our business continues to grow in scale and complexity, we are seeking a strong operational leader to join our production leadership team. 

This is a pivotal production role focused on ensuring the delivery of full production to the highest level. 

The Opportunity 

Reporting to the Factory Operations Manager, you will take ownership of production performance across safety, quality, cost and delivery to the plan. You will train and manage team performance, ensuring consistent quality of the production output, while ensuring labour targets and operational discipline are met.

This is a hands-on leadership role and requires a leader who is comfortable operating on the production floor where success will come from your ability to influence stakeholders, drive continuous improvement, and optimise plant performance.

You will play a critical role in embedding improving operational efficiency, minimising waste and delivering measurable business outcomes. This role offers strong opportunities for career progression, including future leadership pathways as the Company continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities 

• Drive production performance across safety, quality, cost, and service outcomes

• Track and report on production metrics including quality, labour, cost per ton, materials used and waste

• Improve equipment performance and minimise downtime in partnership with maintenance

• Collaborate cross-functionally with planning, warehousing, quality, retail, maintenance and customer service

• Standardise best-practice production processes across operations

• Establish clear daily and weekly KPI governance rhythms 

• Ensure compliance with safety, food safety and regulatory requirements 

• Build capability and accountability within the production teams 

• Operate production machinery with a thorough understanding of equipment capabilities, troubleshooting, and front-end maintenance

• Recruit, train, and develop production staff to build capability and a positive team culture

What Success Looks Like 

Within 12 months you will have: 

• Delivered measurable improvement in production KPI’s 

• Improved labour efficiency and cost control 

• Built a stable, accountable production team 

About You 

You like to face the challenge of modern automation, enjoy making a real contribution, and get genuine satisfaction from a job done well.

• 5-10 years’ experience in a FMCG environment

• A natural leader who builds capable, motivated teams

• Commercial acumen with cost control capability 

• Familiarity with food safety standards (HACCP, GMP) and WHS legislation

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment 

• Sharp problem-solver who reads the data and drives real improvements

• Flexible — happy to step in and assist across all operational areas when needed

• Comfortable operating and maintaining automated processing and packaging machinery

What’s In It for You

• High-impact leadership opportunity within a growing FMCG business 

• Direct influence on production performance and cost outcomes 

• Opportunity to build and shape a strong production team 

• Competitive salary package

• Supportive and collaborative environment

Applicants must be able to work in Australia without any ongoing work restrictions.

Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

Apply Now!  

We look forward to hearing from you!