Head of Operations

Benchmark Resourcing is a boutique talent partner of choice for the Australian meat industry. We exclusively partner within this sector because we believe our clients and candidates deserve a recruitment specialist who understands their world inside and out. From paddock through to plate, we are Australia’s national staffing solution across the entire meat supply chain.

The Opportunity

Our meat industry partner is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to take ownership of its largest production facility while influencing operational performance across a national network of sites.

This is a rare executive opportunity to join a well established Australian protein business undergoing significant growth and transformation. Reporting into the CEO, you'll play a critical role in driving operational excellence, culture, performance and continuous improvement initiatives across both site level performance and national operational strategy within one of Australia’s most recognised protein brands.

The Position

As Head of Operations, you'll assume full accountability for the organisation’s largest and most complex production facility while establishing the operational standards, systems and performance disciplines that support multiple sites nationally.

This role is far more than a traditional site management position. You'll lead operational excellence initiatives across production, workforce management, logistics, safety, quality, DIFOT performance, yield optimisation and continuous improvement, while partnering closely with commercial leadership to support future growth.

• Full operational responsibility for the organisation’s flagship Queensland production facility.
• Leading production, safety, quality, workforce and financial performance outcomes.
• Driving labour efficiency, yield optimisation and waste reduction initiatives.
• Overseeing fleet operations, delivery performance and DIFOT outcomes.
• Developing and implementing national SOPs, operational standards and reporting frameworks.
• Leading continuous improvement programs across multiple sites.
• Driving national consistency across food safety, quality and compliance systems.
• Supporting automation, technology and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Providing operational input into capacity planning, customer growth and commercial opportunities.
• Building leadership capability across site operations teams nationally.

The Candidate

An Operations Manager, Head of Operations, General Manager Operations or Multisite Site Manager currently leading a large and complex food, protein or manufacturing operation. You're highly visible on the production floor, commercially astute and capable of balancing operational discipline with people leadership.

• 10+ years operational leadership experience within meat processing, protein manufacturing, wholesale meat operations, value added production or multisite food/FMCG businesses is the minimum expectation.
• Demonstrated success managing large production facilities and blue collar workforces.
• Strong understanding of labour management, productivity, yield and operational cost control.
• Experience managing food safety, quality and compliance systems including HACCP, SQF or equivalent.
• Proven success implementing continuous improvement initiatives and operational excellence programs.
• Experience establishing operational standards and KPI frameworks across multiple sites.
• Strong leadership capability with experience coaching and developing operational leaders.
• Commercial understanding of site P&L performance and budgeting processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience managing fleet operations, logistics, DIFOT performance and chain of responsibility obligations will also be viewed favourably.

The Offer

This role suits a highly driven operational leader who enjoys building teams, improving performance, creating accountability and delivering measurable operational outcomes across complex production environments. It requires regular domestic travel to company sites interstate that is non-negotiable.

• Executive leadership role reporting directly to the CEO.
• Ownership of the organisation’s largest and most strategically important facility.
• National operational influence across a growing network.
• Salary package of approximately $180,000 - $200,000 + 12% Superannuation.
• 25% STI linked to operational performance outcomes.
• Opportunity to shape future operational strategy and business growth.

Next Steps

There is a detailed position description available for shortlisted candidates. If you meet the above criteria, I would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume outlining your relevant experience along with two contactable referees. Only suitably qualified candidates will be contacted.

For confidential enquiries, please contact Alicia Hastie on 0422 320 261 or email your resume to ***email_hidden***. All applications will be handled with the utmost integrity and confidentiality.