Job description

General Manager – Manufacturing
Brisbane Northside | Senior Executive Leadership Opportunity
Lead manufacturing, national distribution and an exciting period of business transformation.

An established, privately owned Australian manufacturing group is seeking an experienced General Manager to take overall responsibility for its manufacturing and industrial distribution businesses.
This is a genuine senior leadership opportunity for a commercially astute, hands-on executive who understands manufacturing, knows how to drive profitability and can lead multiple business units through growth and operational change.
With plans for national distribution expansion, significant investment in manufacturing infrastructure and greater integration across the group, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact.

The Prospect
Reporting directly to the Group General Manager, you will take responsibility for the overall commercial, operational and strategic performance of the group's manufacturing and distribution divisions.
You will lead an established senior management team covering manufacturing operations, national sales and interstate distribution, with full accountability for business performance, profitability, people and growth.
This is not a role focused solely on day-to-day production. You will be responsible for setting direction, developing your leadership team, improving performance and delivering key strategic projects.

Key Responsibilities
Commercial & Strategic Leadership

- Take full P&L; accountability across manufacturing and oversight of distribution business performance.
- Drive revenue growth, profitability, gross margins and working capital improvements.
- Develop and execute annual business plans, budgets, forecasts and operational strategies.
- Identify opportunities to improve customer profitability, pricing structures and product offerings.
- Evaluate manufacturing versus importing opportunities to optimise commercial performance.
- Build strong relationships with key customers, suppliers and strategic partners.

Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

- Oversee manufacturing performance through an experienced Operations Manager.
- Drive improvements in productivity, operational efficiency, quality and cost control.
- Improve production planning, inventory management, warehousing and dispatch.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including lean manufacturing,



waste reduction and equipment utilisation.
- Improve delivery performance, targeting at least 95% of orders DIFOT
- Maintain high standards of workplace safety, quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

Business Integration & National Growth

- Lead the integration of manufacturing and distribution operations into a more streamlined and commercially aligned group.
- Oversee the implementation and adoption of ERP systems, including Odoo, across business units.
- Support the expansion of the national distribution network, including planned new facilities in regional Queensland and NSW.
- Strengthen operational processes, customer service standards and reporting across multiple sites.
- Identify new markets, strategic partnerships and opportunities for sustainable growth.

Major Projects & Business Transformation

- Play a key leadership role in the planning and delivery of a new purpose-built manufacturing facility over the next 3–4 years.
- Work alongside group executives on capital investment, plant and equipment, automation and infrastructure planning.
- Oversee operational transition planning to minimise disruption to production and customers.
- Drive improvements in supply chain management, procurement, freight and logistics.
- Support the introduction of new technologies, systems and more efficient operating models.

People & Leadership

- Lead, mentor and develop a senior management team across manufacturing, sales and distribution.
- Establish clear performance expectations, accountability and measurable KPIs.
- Build a positive, high-performance culture across multiple business units.
- Develop succession plans and strengthen leadership capability.
- Champion workplace health and safety, employee engagement and continuous improvement.

About You

We are seeking an experienced senior leader who combines strong manufacturing knowledge with commercial acumen and the ability to lead people through change.

Essential Experience

- Minimum five years in a General Manager,



Operations General Manager or equivalent senior leadership position.
- Proven experience with full P&L; responsibility, ideally within manufacturing or industrial distribution.
- Demonstrated success leading senior managers across multiple sites or business units.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production efficiency, supply chain and continuous improvement.
- Proven ability to improve profitability, operational performance, service delivery and margins.
- Strong financial literacy across budgets, forecasting, working capital and capital expenditure.
- Experience implementing or optimising ERP systems and associated business processes.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and commercial negotiation skills.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent industry experience.
- Willingness to undertake regular interstate travel.

Highly Regarded

- Experience in industrial engineering, fabricated products or other complex manufacturing environments.
- Experience integrating acquired businesses or expanding multi-site operations.
- Exposure to importing, offshore sourcing and national distribution.
- Involvement in greenfield manufacturing developments, factory relocations or major capital projects.
- Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience.
- Experience with Odoo or similar ERP platforms.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

- Genuine executive leadership responsibility across multiple business units.
- Established, privately owned Australian manufacturing group.
- Direct access to group leadership and key decision-makers.
- Significant opportunity to influence commercial and operational strategy.
- Major investment planned in current manufacturing infrastructure.
- National distribution expansion and business growth initiatives.
- Opportunity to lead meaningful business transformation.
- Long-term career opportunity with a business committed to Australian manufacturing.

Interested?

If you are an experienced General Manager or senior manufacturing leader looking for an opportunity to take ownership of business performance, lead a capable management team and shape the future of an established industrial group, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

Apply now or contact Amanda Norton-Child at AustCorp Executive for a confidential discussion. 0423 200 321

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

📌 General Manager (Petrie Terrace)
🏢 Austcorp
📍 Petrie Terrace