This is an prospect to join one of Australia's most iconic and loved food manufacturers, a business whose brands have sat in pantries, lunchboxes and shared moments across generations. Behind that familiarity is an organisation with genuine scale, heritage and ambition, continuing to evolve, modernise and grow. Underpinned by a culture that values high performance with integrity, quality and sustainability, this business is investing in its manufacturing network and needs strong, commercially sharp, operationally disciplined leaders who know how to get performance moving, safely, sustainably and at pace.

The Role

Reporting into the Supply Chain Leadership Team, this is a significant site leadership role with end-to-end accountability across supply planning, manufacturing operations, engineering, process improvement, distribution and logistics at a major Melbourne manufacturing facility. This is not a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. The site requires a transformational leader who can bring operational rigour, cultural reset, commercial discipline and visible leadership, someone equally comfortable on the factory floor, in the numbers, in front of senior leaders, and in the hard conversations that come with lifting standards. Your key responsibilities will include:

- Lead the site and its associated supply chain functions, providing clear direction, performance expectations and leadership to the site leadership team
- Drive stronger performance across order fulfilment, quality, safety, logistics and customer service outcomes, including DIFOT




- Build a culture of accountability, learning, operational discipline and continuous improvement across the site
- Partner with Safety, Quality, Engineering, Finance, Procurement, People & Culture and commercial teams to deliver the broader strategic agenda
- Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities in partnership with supply chain operations and Finance
- Improve manufacturing processes, supplier performance, transportation and overall operational effectiveness
- Ensure full compliance with WHS regulations, food standards, chain of responsibility obligations and quality systems, including SQF, HACCP, WQA, Kosher and RSPO certifications
- Develop site capability through technical training and more autonomous, multi-skilled ways of working

Your Background

You are an experienced manufacturing & operations leader with the credibility to lead operational experts, the commercial maturity to engage senior stakeholders, and the human judgement to build trust through a period of change. You know when to listen, when to challenge, when to simplify, and when to make the call. You will also have the following skills & experience:

- Senior operational leadership experience within food manufacturing,



FMCG or another regulated, fast-paced environment
- Solid technical knowledge across supply chain operations, logistics, engineering, quality and food safety
- Demonstrated success leading cultural transformation and lifting performance across complex operational environments
- Robust business acumen with the ability to connect operational decisions to commercial outcomes
- Experience operating within robust regulatory and compliance environments
- A degree qualification in Science, Engineering, Food Technology or a related discipline
- Strong numeracy, data interpretation and structured problem-solving capability
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, particularly in advocating for and leading change
- A practical, visible leadership style that works across all levels of the organisation

What's On Offer

This is an opportunity to lead meaningful change in a business with scale, heritage and ambition. You will have the chance to shape the future of a key site, lift operational performance, strengthen culture, and leave a visible legacy, the kind of role that reminds you why you chose operations in the first place, because when it works, the impact is immediate, tangible and deeply commercial.

In addition to a very competitive executive remuneration package, you'll join a values-driven business where the work is real, the expectations are high, and the impact will matter, with genuine scope, visibility and support for continued growth opportunities.

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📌 General Manager - Operations (Melbourne)
🏢 Sonder Executive
📍 Melbourne