Manufacturing Manager – Bay of Plenty

About the role

The Manufacturing Manager will lead the Bay of Plenty plant, providing operational leadership and governance for the New Zealand manufacturing facility. You will drive talent development, engineering excellence and safety to keep the company at the forefront of premium pet nutrition.

Key responsibilities

• Execute the manufacturing roadmap to satisfy domestic and export demand, overseeing capacity planning and resource allocation.
• Partner with the Process & Product Development Manager to improve OEE, yield and overall product quality.
• Audit the site QA framework to ensure 100 % compliance with MPI and RMP requirements.
• Guide the Project & Maintenance Engineering Manager on CAPEX projects, TPM initiatives and equipment reliability.
• Collaborate with the EHS Lead to conduct risk assessments, safety audits and HSWA compliance reporting.
• Manage the plant operating budget, applying Lean/Six Sigma tools to reduce cost‑per‑tonne while maintaining quality standards.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science or a related technical field (MBA or postgraduate qualification desirable).
• 5–8 years of progressive experience in food/FMCG manufacturing, preferably in high‑care or high‑hygiene environments such as dairy or export pet food.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and deliver results in a fast‑paced production setting.

Required skills

• HACCP / Food Safety Management certification.
• Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt).
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems – SAP or Microsoft Dynamics.