Site Operations Manager

The business

Our client is an established, family owned horticulture business in the Goulburn Valley, growing, packing and dispatching fresh produce for domestic and export markets. With their own orchards feeding a modern packing, cold storage and dispatch facility, they control the product from tree to truck. The business is well run, commercially focused and looking for an operational leader to take the processing side of the organisation to the next level in sophistication, safety and performance.

The role

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will run the daily operation of the fresh fruit packing, storage and dispatch facility. This is a working manager position, not a desk job. You will be on the floor, making real time decisions on fruit flow, labour and equipment, and visibly leading the team, especially through peak season.

Your accountabilities will include:

• Running day to day processing operations across a range of fresh produce from receival, grading, packing, cold storage and dispatch
• Building and managing daily and weekly production schedules so receivals align with customer orders
• Planning labour requirements, shift structures and overtime, and directly supervising permanent and seasonal casual staff
• Assisting with recruitment, induction and training of the seasonal workforce
• Coordinating receival timing with farm managers and transport providers to keep the shed flowing
• Keeping bin tipping, grading and packing lines running, coordinating minor repairs and escalating major maintenance issues
• Driving a strong safety culture and maintaining GMP, food safety and export certification standards
• Managing cold storage utilisation, stock rotation and handover to dispatch
• Giving the Managing Director clear feedback on capacity, receival risks and labour constraints
• Leading continuous improvement to lift throughput, efficiency and safety

About you

• Proven experience running a fresh produce processing or food manufacturing operation
• Strong track record managing operational workforces and holding people to account on attendance, performance and safety
• Practical understanding of food manufacturing / processing including operational capacity and labour productivity
• Sound working knowledge of GMP, food safety and WHS requirements
• Experience with fresh produce, or a background in grower linked businesses, will be highly regarded but not essential.

What's on offer

A genuine leadership role in a stable, owner operated horticulture business, with the autonomy to run the site your way and the backing of a Managing Director with a growth mindset that wants to drive positive change. The Goulburn Valley offers an affordable regional lifestyle within easy reach of the Murray, with relocation support available for the right candidate.

For a confidential discussion or to find our more please contact Ricky Phare at Sonder Executive on 0409 741 184 or via email at: ricky@sonderexecutive.com.au.