Section Manager – Production (Red Meat Processing)

About the role

The Section Manager – Production leads the processing team at our Pareora site, ensuring that production, health and safety, quality and compliance objectives are met consistently. This senior position shapes a culture aligned with company values while fostering agile, collaborative teams.

Key responsibilities

• Support departments in organising teams to maximise production outcomes and resource utilisation.
• Champion continuous‑improvement initiatives and drive the Streamline program.
• Coach and mentor production leaders, developing their leadership capability.
• Build and maintain an uncompromising safety culture across all operations.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and financial performance, maximising throughput while controlling costs.

Required profile

• Minimum three years in a senior production leadership role, preferably in red‑meat processing or a similar FMCG environment.
• Proven experience training, coaching and mentoring teams to raise skill levels.
• Strong knowledge of employee‑relations principles and workforce management.
• Excellent understanding of regulatory and hygiene compliance requirements.
• Ability to manage approximately 250 staff across multiple production departments during peak season.

Required skills

• Excel (intermediate/high level)
• Word
• PowerPoint
• Outlook

What we offer

• Leadership of a dynamic, multi‑species processing site with diverse daily challenges.
• Focus on safety, continuous improvement and professional development.