Production Manager

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 40 direct reports
• Drive a safety-first, high quality culture within an FSSC-accredited operation
• Oversee all manufacturing activities across three shifts (24/5)
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned to business goals and KPIs
• Identify and resolve process capability and fitness for manufacture issues
• Build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement and standard work
• Analyse production costs and implement strategies to improve profitability
• Manage daily and weekly production schedules to optimise efficiency and DIFOT
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, food safety, and company standards

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience in quality-critical environments such as food, pharma, or chemical
• Demonstrated success in low margin, high volume operations
• Proven ability to lead in complex, automated facilities
• Proficiency in manufacturing systems (ERP, MES)
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making capability

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Science, or Business
• Formal training in Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma
• Experience with Industry 4.0 technologies
• Australia/New Zealand manufacturing or recycling experience
• Knowledge of Australian workplace health and safety regulations

About the Company

Circular Plastics Australia (CPA) transforms post-consumer PET from kerbside and recovery streams into high-quality, food-grade recycled resin for reuse in packaging applications.