Lead a team of approximately 50 people, take ownership of manufacturing operations and drive right-first-time production.
Reporting to the General Manager and working alongside the Leadership Team, you will oversee manufacturing and production activities, ensuring customer requirements are delivered safely, on time, to specification and within budget.
Key responsibilities
Lead production office support staff, team leaders and production employees, establishing clear priorities, accountability and performance standards
Take ownership of jobs moving through the factory, resolve bottlenecks early and achieve daily, weekly and monthly delivery targets
Manage production scheduling, capacity planning and labour allocation across production areas and shifts
Ensure machinery, tooling, staffing and skills are matched to requirements, and communicate lead times and capacity constraints accurately
Maintain a visible presence on the factory floor and lead a safety-first culture
Work with the Quality Manager to investigate defects and non-conformances, address root causes and reduce rework
Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing and 5S practices to reduce waste, waiting time and process variation
Coordinate preventative maintenance and ensure breakdowns and recurring machinery issues are investigated and resolved
Recruit, induct,



train, coach and develop production employees and team leaders
Monitor labour efficiency, machine utilisation, overtime, subcontracting and production expenditure
About you
At least 10 years' relevant manufacturing experience, including substantial production leadership responsibility in sheet metal manufacturing
Practical working knowledge of machinery operation, both manual and CNC, including machine capabilities, tooling, setup requirements and production processes
Manufacturing expertise built on a strong foundation of trade skills
Proven experience leading sizeable production teams, with the ability to coach, motivate and develop team leaders and employees
Strong production planning, scheduling, capacity management and resource allocation skills
Practical experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, 5S and continuous improvement
A demonstrated commitment to safety, quality and right-first-time manufacturing
Sound commercial judgement and experience controlling manufacturing costs
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Office
Explicit communication skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines

📌 Production Manager - Sheet Metal (Sydney)
🏢 Worthwhile Recruiting
📍 Sydney