Our client, Village Dairy is a growing, multi-site dairy manufacturing business backed by Apta Group, an Australian private investment group building a portfolio of high-quality food and beverage businesses.

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded General Manager to take full responsibility for Village Dairy and lead the business through its next phase of growth, operational improvement and professionalisation.

This is a hands-on leadership position with genuine accountability. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable engaging with employees on the factory floor, managing key customer relationships, driving operational and financial performance, and presenting to the Apta Directors and Board.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Apta Group Directors and Board, the General Manager will assume full responsibility for the performance of Village Dairy across its Dandenong and Traralgon operations.

Key responsibilities will include:

- Owning the full P&L;, cash flow, budget and financial performance of the business
- Developing and executing the operational and commercial strategy for Village Dairy
- Improving yield, labour efficiency, production throughput, cost control and asset utilisation
- Establishing consistent operating standards, systems and accountability across both sites
- Maintaining a strong focus on safety, food quality, regulatory compliance and customer service
- Leading relationships with key customers and supporting pricing, margin and contract discussions
- Building, developing and holding accountable a capable leadership team across the business
- Overseeing capital expenditure and ensuring investments deliver measurable operational and commercial returns




- Providing clear, timely and commercially relevant reporting to the Apta Group Directors and Board
- Identifying and delivering opportunities for sustainable growth, improved profitability and operational resilience

About You

You will be an experienced food, dairy, beverage or FMCG manufacturing leader with a strong record of improving business performance. Ideally, you will bring:

- Significant senior leadership experience within food, dairy, beverage or FMCG manufacturing
- Full P&L; responsibility and a solid understanding of the drivers of manufacturing profitability
- A demonstrated record of delivering measurable improvements in operational performance, margin, yield, labour efficiency or service
- The ability to lead both operational and commercial aspects of a manufacturing business
- Experience developing management capability and building a culture of accountability
- Confidence managing major customer relationships and commercially sensitive discussions
- Strong communication skills and the credibility to engage effectively with owners and Board members
- Experience leading multiple sites or complex manufacturing operations, although this is not essential
- Full Australian working rights

Why Join Village Dairy?

This is not a caretaker appointment. The successful candidate will have a genuine mandate to improve and build the business, with meaningful autonomy, direct access to ownership and the opportunity to shape how Village Dairy operates for the long term.

The role will suit a commercially driven manufacturing leader who enjoys solving problems, building capable teams and being directly accountable for results.

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📌 General Manager (Dandenong)
🏢 IMPACT- People and Culture
📍 Dandenong