Production Manager

• Job Opening: Production Manager – Hay Processing Plant
• Location: QA Hay - Warracknabeal, VIC, Australia
• Full-time | Competitive Salary |

We are seeking a reliable and detail-oriented Production Manager to lead day-to-day operations at our hay processing facility. This role is ideal for someone with a strong technical background in production environments — who thrives on structure, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

About the Role

As Production Manager, you will oversee the daily production plan, aligning people, equipment, and materials to meet output, quality, and safety targets. You'll play a key supervisory role, guiding your team to achieve consistent performance while ensuring efficient use of resources.

Working closely with planning, quality, and maintenance functions, you'll be the central point for coordinating production schedules, resolving bottlenecks, and making data-driven adjustments to keep operations on track. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll balance structured production management with continuous improvement and a focus on reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• · Oversee daily production performance, leading the team to consistently achieve output, quality, and safety targets.
• · Provide strong hands-on technical and maintenance leadership, supporting the team under pressure and making sound operational decisions in coordination with the General Manager
• · Drive equipment reliability through structured preventative and corrective maintenance programs
• · Ensure compliance with company standards as well as external safety and food quality regulations
• · Monitor and analyse production data to improve scheduling, efficiency, and throughput
• · Analyse production and maintenance data to inform decisions and support continuous improvement
• · Collaborate with planning, quality, and maintenance teams to ensure full operational readiness
• · Contribute practical input to capital projects, equipment upgrades, and plant improvements
• · Lead and review risk assessments, implementing preventative measures and monitoring high-level controls to safeguard personnel and plant operations
• · Oversee inductions for staff, contractors, and visitors, fostering a professional, team-oriented culture and ensuring adequate resources during peak periods
• · Ensure employees are trained, qualified, and competent to safely perform their roles, with full compliance to QA Hay Safe Systems and safety obligations
• · Investigate hazards and incidents, ensuring timely response and effective corrective actions
• · Implement, review, and continuously improve SOPs and plant operating procedures
• · Drive root cause analysis and lead initiatives to identify improvement opportunities and cost reductions
• · Support the adoption of digital tools and sustainability initiatives within production
• What You Bring
• · Experience in production coordination, technical operations, or maintenance leadership
• · Strong knowledge of equipment, plant processes, and safety/quality systems
• · Familiarity with CMMS systems, reporting tools, and production KPIs
• · A structured, improvement-oriented approach to daily challenges
• · Strong communication and team leadership skills
• · Ability to translate technical insights into operational decisions
• Qualifications
• · Technical education or training in engineering, maintenance, or production
• · 2+ years of relevant experience in a manufacturing or agricultural processing environment
• · Proven track record in equipment management, process control, or team coordination

Why Join Us?

We offer a supportive, practical, and purpose-driven work environment where reliability and initiative are valued. As part of our team, you'll have the chance to influence plant performance, lead meaningful change, and grow into a key leadership role.

• Apply by sending your CV to:
• Application deadline: 18/10/2025

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 – $95,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person