Manufacturing Manager – South Australia

Interpack Pty Ltd | Dudley Park, Adelaide SA | Full time

Senior Leadership Opportunity | 24-Hour Manufacturing Operation | Three-Shift Environment

About Interpack

Interpack is a proudly Australian-owned manufacturer of premium metal packaging and closure solutions, supplying leading brands across the wine, beverage and food industries.

With a strong manufacturing heritage, advanced production technology and a commitment to quality, innovation and operational excellence, Interpack continues to invest in its people, manufacturing capabilities and long-term growth.

Our South Australian facility is a key part of our manufacturing operations, specialising in high-quality metal closure production, printing, coating and associated manufacturing processes.

We are seeking an experienced, commercially focused and results-driven Manufacturing Manager to lead our South Australian operations and drive the next stage of manufacturing excellence.

About the Role

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Manufacturing Manager will have overall responsibility for the operational and financial performance of our South Australian manufacturing facility.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership position overseeing a 24-hour manufacturing operation across three production shifts, requiring strong operational leadership, financial discipline and the ability to manage a complex, high-volume manufacturing environment.

The successful candidate will take ownership of production performance, manufacturing budgets, workforce management, safety, quality, equipment reliability and continuous improvement.

We are looking for a proactive leader who can challenge existing processes, identify opportunities, implement sustainable improvements and deliver measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Operations & Performance

- Provide overall leadership and direction across a 24-hour, three-shift manufacturing operation.

- Ensure production targets, manufacturing schedules and customer delivery commitments are consistently achieved.

- Optimise production capacity, machinery utilisation, labour allocation and operational efficiency.

- Identify and resolve manufacturing constraints, production bottlenecks and recurring operational issues.

- Work collaboratively with Production Planning, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain to achieve business objectives.

Financial Management & Budget Control

- Take ownership of manufacturing budgets, cost management and financial performance.

- Develop, manage and monitor operational budgets, ensuring expenditure remains within approved financial targets.

- Control labour costs, overtime, material consumption, manufacturing waste, maintenance expenditure and other operating costs.

- Analyse manufacturing expenditure,



production variances and operational costs to identify opportunities for improvement.

- Develop and implement cost-reduction initiatives without compromising safety, quality or customer requirements.

- Support financial forecasting, capital expenditure planning and investment decisions.

- Drive improvements in manufacturing productivity, cost efficiency and overall profitability.

People Leadership & Workforce Management

- Lead, develop and support production supervisors, team leaders and manufacturing employees across all three shifts.

- Establish a strong culture of accountability, teamwork, operational discipline and high performance.

- Manage workforce planning, labour utilisation, employee performance and succession planning.

- Develop employee capabilities through training, coaching, cross-skilling and continuous development.

- Ensure consistent leadership, communication and operational standards across all shifts.

- Promote positive employee engagement while maintaining clear performance expectations.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase manufacturing efficiency, reduce costs and eliminate waste.

- Implement Lean Manufacturing principles, process optimisation and best-practice manufacturing systems.

- Drive improvements in machine availability, production changeovers, equipment reliability and overall operational effectiveness.

- Identify opportunities for automation, process innovation and improved manufacturing technology.

- Develop practical solutions to recurring production issues through structured problem-solving and root cause analysis.

- Promote a continuous improvement culture across the entire manufacturing workforce.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

- Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with workplace health and safety requirements.

- Ensure manufacturing operations meet Interpack's quality standards, customer specifications and applicable FSSC 22000 food safety requirements.

- Work closely with Quality and Maintenance teams to minimise defects, equipment downtime, scrap and rework.

- Ensure manufacturing processes, standard operating procedures and production reporting systems are maintained and consistently followed.

- Lead corrective actions and preventive initiatives to improve product quality and operational reliability.

About You

We are seeking an accomplished manufacturing professional with proven leadership experience in a complex,



high-volume production environment.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

- Significant experience in a Manufacturing Manager, Operations Manager, Production Manager or similar senior leadership position.

- Proven experience managing large manufacturing teams in a multi-shift or continuous manufacturing environment.

- Strong financial and commercial acumen, including demonstrated responsibility for managing operational budgets, controlling costs and improving profitability.

- Demonstrated success in driving manufacturing performance, productivity improvements and cost reduction.

- Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

- Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate teams while creating a culture of accountability.

- Sound technical understanding of manufacturing equipment, preventative maintenance and production processes.

- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

- A proactive, hands-on leadership style with the ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels.

- Strong commitment to workplace safety, product quality and regulatory compliance.

Highly Regarded

- Experience in metal packaging, printing, coating, converting or related high-volume manufacturing industries.

- Experience managing 24-hour manufacturing operations across multiple shifts.

- Qualifications in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or a related discipline.

- Experience with ERP systems, manufacturing cost analysis and production performance reporting.

- Demonstrated experience delivering successful operational transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

What We Offer

- A senior leadership chance within an established Australian-owned manufacturing business.

- Responsibility for a significant manufacturing operation with the autonomy to drive operational improvements.

- The opportunity to influence manufacturing strategy, financial performance and long-term business success.

- A collaborative leadership environment committed to innovation, quality and continuous improvement.

- Competitive executive-level remuneration package commensurate with experience and capability.

- Long-term career development and professional growth opportunities.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced manufacturing leader with strong commercial acumen, a passion for operational excellence and a proven ability to deliver results in a demanding manufacturing environment, we encourage you to apply.

We are looking for an individual who takes ownership, leads by example and is committed to building a safe, productive, financially disciplined and high-performing manufacturing operation.

📌 MANUFACTURING MANAGER (Dudley Park)
🏢 Interpack
📍 Dudley Park