Maintenance Team Lead

We are Fonterra, one of the world's largest dairy nutrition companies. Here in Australia, we collect milk from Aussie Farmers across Victoria and Tasmania, and our manufacturing sites turn this into the dairy foods you know and love in our supermarkets, including Perfect Italiano, Mainland, Western Star, and Bega. We also sell dairy ingredients to many of the world's leading food companies and partner with food services businesses across the country to get dairy foods into chefs' hands.

As a Co-operative created and owned by New Zealand dairy farmers, our collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in Australia and around the world.

As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.

When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

About us

Fonterra's Tullamarine site in Melbourne is a key processing hub, transforming bulk cheese into consumer-ready formats like grated, shredded, and sliced products. With two facilities and a capacity of over 30,000 tonnes annually, it supplies both domestic and international markets. The site is highly automated and committed to sustainability, supporting Fonterra's mission to do good with dairy.

Your Purpose:

As the Site Maintenance Lead, you will play a crucial role in overseeing and coordinating maintenance operations to maintain the highest standards of efficiency and productivity. This position will lead a team of maintenance technicians, providing guidance, training, and support.

Responsibilities will include:

• Plan and schedule maintenance activities, including preventive and corrective maintenance tasks, to minimize equipment downtime and maximise production output
• Supervising small groups of qualified trades, apprentices and contractors
• Monitor equipment performance, identify potential issues, and implement appropriate maintenance strategies to prevent breakdowns and minimise disruptions
• Conduct regular inspections to assess the condition of machinery, equipment, and facilities, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards
• Collaborate with other departments, such as production and engineering, to coordinate maintenance activities and prioritize tasks based on operational needs.
• Manage and maintain inventory of spare parts, tools, and equipment, ensuring availability and timely procurement as needed
• Maintain accurate documentation of maintenance activities, including work orders, reports, and equipment history, using computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)

About you:

We are seeking individuals that have trade/maintenance experience within a similar sort of food production or factory environment, combined with proven leadership skills and the ability to effectively lead and manage a team. This role is ideal for a seasoned tradesperson or maintenance professional who is looking to transition away from shift work and hands-on tasks.

You can also demonstrate:

• Trade qualification in a relevant field (e.g., mechanical, electrical) or a background in engineering is highly desirable.
• Proven experience as a Maintenance Lead, Supervisor or similar role in a manufacturing or industrial setting
• Strong technical knowledge and understanding of maintenance principles, practices, and equipment reliability
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire a diverse team of technicians
• Proficient computer skills, including experience with CMMS or similar maintenance management software

Are you excited about this opportunity but may only meet some requirements?

At Fonterra, we are committed to building a diverse workplace and, therefore, open to looking at applicants with excellent transferable skills. If that's you, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or one of our other opportunities.

Or join our Talent Community by clicking here, to be notified about new and relevant job opportunities.

The benefits of life at Fonterra

Our people and what they bring to our Co-op shape our success. We have a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders, and passionate people, making Fonterra a great place to work. We also offer competitive remuneration and a range of benefits, regardless of your role or location.

Fonterra is a place where everyone can be themselves, feel empowered to do their best, and are empowered to create goodness for generations.

Sound good to you? Come and join us, and let's solve for better, together. You, me, us together.