Trade-qualified engineer ready to lead a production shift? Join Season's Best and use your technical expertise to drive performance, prevent downtime, and lift capability.
The Opportunity
This is not your typical Shift Manager role. And it is not a standard Production Manager position either.
This is a new approach to manufacturing leadership in New Zealand.
Season's Best, formerly Talley's, is stepping into an exciting new chapter with a new name, a new factory, and a fresh way of thinking about how production should run. This role sits right at the heart of that change.
We are looking for a trade-qualified engineer to lead a production shift. Someone who does not just manage output, but truly understands the machinery behind it, can hear when something is off, spot issues early, and bring a level of technical awareness that transforms how a shift operates.
Because when a technically minded leader runs the shift, everything changes.
Downtime reduces. Operators grow in confidence and capability. Maintenance teams spend less time firefighting. And production becomes smarter, not just faster.
Why This Role Is Different
* Lead with your trade expertise to prevent breakdowns, reduce downtime, and improve plant performance
* Upskill operators to handle minor technical issues, building a stronger and more capable production team
* Bridge the gap between production and maintenance, creating a more efficient and collaborative operation
What You'll Be Doing
You will take full ownership of your shift, leading production while bringing strong technical oversight to daily operations.
You will be on the floor supporting start-ups, changeovers, and troubleshooting, while proactively identifying risks before they escalated. You will coach your team to better understand the machinery they work with, building capability across the shift.
You will also work closely with maintenance, ensuring issues are clearly identified and resolved efficiently, reducing unnecessary downtime and improving overall reliability.
What You Bring
* Trade qualification in Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical), ideally dual trade or Millwright, or sound capability across both electrical and mechanical disciplines.
* Experience in manufacturing or process, ideally within food processing or a fast-paced production environment.
* Strong fault-finding ability and a natural instinct for identifying issues early.
* Leadership experience or readiness to step into a shift leadership role.
* A hands-on, practical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.
What's On Offer
* Salary of $110,000 per year.
* Structured shift pattern: 12 hour shifts -4 days on, 4 days off, 4 nights on, 4 nights off.
* The opportunity to be part of a business redefining how production leadership works in New Zealand.
The Bigger Picture
This role is about changing the way production works.
Better trained operators. Fewer breakdowns. Smarter maintenance. Improved production. Stronger teamwork.
If you have ever thought, "this would run better if someone technical was leading the shift", this is your opportunity to be that person!
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