At Evolve North, we want all Australians to have the best coffee in the world.

We’re a progressive, sustainable and award-winning regional coffee roaster with more than 40 years of experience. At the heart of our business is a genuine culture of care for our coffee, our people and our customers.

With branches in Shepparton, Geelong and Mount Gambier, we support cafés, clubs, hospitality and accommodation venues, community organisations and businesses across regional Australia.

Purpose

Run the business's day-to-day operations so the CEO can focus on strategy, key customers and major tenders. You will be accountable for coffee production, warehousing, procurement, facilities and IT. You will also work with Sales & Marketing so that what we sell can be produced and delivered.

Key accountabilities

Operational delivery

- Take ownership of daily operations across production, warehousing, procurement, facilities and IT.

- Deliver agreed targets for service levels, quality, cost, safety and on-time delivery.

- Set clear priorities and reporting rhythms with each direct report.

- Create processes between manufacturing and warehousing as distinct operating silos

Production and quality

- Oversee roasting and production planning, capacity and efficiency, working through the Head of Coffee.

- Make sure certification and compliance requirements are met and audit-ready.

Supply chain and warehousing

- Oversee the Shepparton, Mt G and Geelong warehouse operations, including inventory accuracy, safety and distribution performance.

- Lead procurement and supplier performance, including green bean sourcing, cost control, efficiency gains and supply continuity.

Commercial alignment

- Work closely with the Sales & Marketing Director so that customer commitments, contract roast work and tender requirements (e.g. major retail accounts) can be met by operations.

- Provide operational input into pricing, capacity and delivery commitments before they are made.





- Work with the Contract Roast Manager and Distributor Manager on day-to-day delivery.

Systems, technology and improvement

- Work with the IT Manager and Head of AI to prioritise systems and automation that improve operations.

- Introduce simple, measurable process improvements, including KPIs and operational dashboards.

Financial management

- Own the operations budget and report variances to the CEO and CFO.

- Manage capital and asset planning, with the Facilities & Asset Manager.

People and culture

- Lead, coach and develop the operations leadership team.

- Promote a robust safety culture and a culture of accountability, in a family-owned business setting.

Risk and governance

- Work with Risk & Governance on operational risk, compliance, WHS and business continuity.

Decision authority

- Own: operational plans, rosters and workforce within the approved budget, supplier and process decisions, and operational priorities.

- Shared with the Sales & Marketing Director: customer delivery commitments and capacity trade-offs. The GM leads on whether it is operationally feasible. Escalate to the CEO if there is a disagreement.

- Escalate to the CEO: spend above [$X], new sites or major capital, and senior hires or exits.

Selection criteria

Essential

- 5 plus years' experience in operations or general management in manufacturing, food and beverage, FMCG or distribution.

- Proven track record leading multi-site operations and managers.

- Working knowledge of supply chain, inventory, procurement and WHS or quality systems.

- Commercial sense: able to turn customer demand into achievable operational plans.

- Strong financial skills:



budgets, cost control and KPI reporting.

- Clear communicator who can work with owners and executives and build fast trust with direct reports.

Desirable

- Coffee, roasting or food manufacturing experience.

- Exposure to food safety or certification schemes.

- Experience with ERP, warehouse systems or data and AI tools.

- Experience in a family-owned or founder-led business.

Why Evolve North?

At Evolve North, you’ll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact. This is an exciting leadership opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of a growing business, driving operational excellence, developing high performing teams and strengthening the systems and processes that will support our continued growth.

- Be part of our growth – Join an established Australian business at an exciting stage of growth and transformation, with the opportunity to help shape our future direction.

- Make an impact – Take a leading role in driving operational performance, improving efficiencies and ensuring our business is positioned for sustainable growth.

- Shape how we work – Lead continuous improvement across our operations, with real opportunities to enhance processes, systems, technology and automation.

- Lead and inspire – Build, develop and empower teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and high performance.

- Grow with the business – Take ownership of key operational priorities, contribute to strategic business decisions and play an integral role in our continued expansion.

- Join a great team – Be part of a friendly, agile and close knit business with strong family values and a genuine commitment to our people and customers.

- Competitive package – Attractive executive remuneration package, including performance based bonus opportunities.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact and help shape the next chapter of Evolve North’s growth!

📌 General Manager - Operations (Shepparton)
🏢 Evolve North
📍 Shepparton