05 Dec
Opella
Virginia
Head of Production- Virginia Site
- Location: Virginia, Brisbane
- Unique Leadership role
Opella is the self-care challenger with the purest and third-largest portfolio in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market globally .
Our mission: to bring health in people’s hands by making self-care as simple as it should be for over half a billion consumers worldwide.
At the core of this mission is our 100+ loved brands , our 11,000-strong global team, our 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites and four specialized science and innovation development centers.
Headquartered in France, Opella is the proud maker of many of the world’s most loved brands, including Natures Own, Cenovis, Ostelin, Telfast, Buscopan and Bisolvon.
B Corp certified in multiple markets , we are active players in the journey towards healthier people and planet.
Find out more about our mission to bring health in your hands at www.opella.com.
About the job
As Head of Production , you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic and operational direction of our Virginia manufacturing site in Brisbane. Your mission is to ensure exceptional service to customers and consumers through safe, cost-effective operations while upholding our uncompromising quality standards.
This leadership role oversees all aspects of Manufacturing and Packaging , including delivering production plans, achieving financial targets, driving new product development, and spearheading packaging innovation. You’ll champion continuous improvement, operational excellence, and efficiency gains across the facility.
As a functional leader, you will influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams—Quality, Maintenance, Manufacturing Excellence, and HSE—to build a high-performing, sustainable operation. Your ability to foster robust relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners will be key to success.
Main Responsibilities
- Safety, Quality, Productivity & Financial Performance : Own site KPIs across manufacturing and packaging.
- Act as the ‘Nominated Person’ under Section 37(1)(e) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 .
- Lead strategic and operational direction for the entire production facility.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration to meet operational goals
- Team Leadership : Manage a team of up to 120 employees, including 8 x direct reports
- Build a skilled, flexible workforce through robust training and development systems.
- Monitor, track, and communicate monthly production performance, identifying improvement strategies
- Ensure budget adherence and close gaps in areas such as activity recovery, expense management, headcount, and yield
- Achieve schedule attainment aligned with production plans.
- Implement Global Manufacturing Excellence principles (e.g., Opella Performance System) and best practices
- Deliver projects focused on Safety, Quality, Productivity, and Sustainability.
- Drive team engagement and deliver on annual ‘Your Voice’ survey commitments
- Oversee skills coverage and individual growth plans, including production L&D;
- Participate in annual budget cycles and submit productivity improvement plans
- Manage minor CapEx submissions and NPD costing in line with project timelines.
- Maintain safe systems of work and risk-free workplace, complying with corporate and legal health and safety requirements
About You
Qualifications:
- Degree qualified in Engineering or similar discipline
Experience:
- Technical (Engineering) background and Production Leadership within GMP environment- FMCG Industry preferred
- Proven people leadership with a track record of meeting team & individual development
- Proven history of achieving both Production KPI's and Continuous Improvement on those KPI's
- Strong problem-solving skills across people, processes, and technical challenges
- Ability to thrive in a regulated environment while embracing a Challenger Mindset .
- Solid financial acumen and comfort managing budgets
- Understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and their impact on business results
Skills:
- Skilled influencer across all levels of the organization
- Project champion with exceptional planning, time management, and presentation skills
- Autonomous and adaptable, balancing long-term strategy with short-term priorities
Why us?
At Opella, you will enjoy doing challenging, purposeful work, empowered to develop consumer brands with passion and creativity. This is your chance to grow new skills and be part of a bold, collaborative, and inclusive culture where people can thrive and be at their best every day.
We Are Challengers.
We are dedicated to making self-care as simple as it should be. That starts with our culture. We are challengers by nature, and this is how we do things:
All In Together: We keep each other honest and have each other's backs.
Courageous: We break boundaries and take thoughtful risks with creativity.
Outcome-Obsessed: We are personally accountable, driving sustainable impact and results with integrity.
Radically Simple: We strive to make things simple for us and simple for consumers, as it should be.
Join us on our mission. Health. In your hands.
www.opella.com/en/careers
📌 Head of Production (Virginia)
🏢 Opella
📍 Virginia
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