Operations Manager

**About Us**:
We create extraordinary experiences. We create memories, we take care of our shared heritage. This means careers where we have to innovate and always push for better, and where your perspective is always valued. This is a world where we bring together our love for the natural environment and our care for one another to make a real difference. This is a world where you'll discover something new, every day.

As an organisation, you'll also discover a culture that will challenge your expectations. We're value driven, but also a $60m community based, purpose driven organisation that is innovative, modern and leads in our sector. With a focus on constant improvement, we're providing an essential service, managing iconic locations, and always doing the right thing.

**The Role**:
We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead our horticulture teams and ensure the delivery of exceptional services to the Victorian community. In this senior leadership role, you will bring strategic vision and operational excellence to life by championing high-performance culture, effective change leadership, and continuous improvement across our organisation.

In this role you will:

- Provide visible leadership and mentoring to front-line leaders.
- Lead performance management initiatives, coaching and feedback processes in alignment with strategic priorities.
- Foster a culture of agility, safety, accountability and respect across diverse teams.
- Oversee workforce planning, scheduling and resourcing to meet 7/365 service delivery needs.
- Drive continuous improvement through operational process re-engineering and strategic initiatives.
- Manage departmental budgets and forecasts, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
- Lead change and innovation projects that enhance service quality and sustainability.
- Champion compliance with relevant legislation, risk management and health, safety & wellbeing standards.
- Contribute to industrial negotiations and manage any resulting operational impacts.

**Your Profile**:
To be successful in this role, you will be a dynamic leader with a passion for people, performance and operational excellence.

You will also bring:

- Demonstrated senior leadership experience in operations, ideally within a technical or community-facing environment.
- Proven capability in leading, coaching and mentoring multi-disciplinary teams.
- Strong understanding of workforce planning, resource management and service delivery models.
- Experience managing budgets, business cases and operational forecasting.
- A track record of implementing process improvements and driving cultural transformation.
- High-level knowledge of workplace health, safety and risk management practices.
- Strong change leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities.
- Understanding of relevant compliance obligations and regulatory requirements.
- Experience working with enterprise agreements and navigating industrial relations matters (desirable).

**What's on Offer**:
We offer a fulfilling career with exceptional personal and professional growth opportunities, along with a comprehensive range of benefits:

- Access to Leadership and Development Programs to foster professional growth and advancement.
- Employee Health, Wellbeing and Assistance Programs including complimentary onsite physio services.
- Flexible working arrangements.
- Immediate access to unpaid parental leave and a short waiting period of only three months for paid parental leave, applicable to both full-time and part-time employees.
- The opportunity to purchase additional annual leave.
- Discounts available at our employee café and onsite florists.

SMCT is an equal opportunity employer, a Diversity Council Australia Member and is proudly endorsed by WORK180 in our ongoing commitment to raising workplace standards for all.