Meals on Wheels SA is committed to helping people remain well-nourished and independent in their communities. The Branch Operations Manager is a pivotal leadership role in Service Operations, providing support to branches and oversight of food production, meal distribution and day-to-day branch operations across the organisation.
About the role
As the Branch Operations Manager, the successful candidate will bring a genuine enthusiasm for MoWSA, its people and the community. This role is responsible for leading a team of branch support officers and coordinators, branch production and service functions, ensuring customers receive high quality meals and service, and that branch operations are safe, compliant, efficient and well supported.
The role works closely with branch teams, volunteers, central office and senior leaders to oversee branch kitchens, food safety, customer requirements, service continuity and operational improvement. It also contributes to service planning, business development, quality improvement, budget oversight and the effective communication of urgent issues across the branch network and central office.
What kind of leader will thrive here
The ideal candidate will have a supportive style and bring others along through encouragement, coaching and practical problem-solving. They will enjoy building strong relationships with branch leadership, volunteers and centralised support teams, and be a trusted go-to leader for branch operations, food safety and service support.
This person will balance warmth with professionalism, build rapport quickly, create psychologically safe spaces for teams, and confidently lead constructive, values-based conversations when needed. They will role model MoWSA's agreed behaviours and values, work collaboratively across the organisation, and help create a culture where customers, volunteers and staff feel respected, safe and valued.
Key responsibilities
* Lead branch production teams and service functions across MoWSA, including branch kitchens, meal distribution and day-to-day branch operations.
* Build high-performing teams through clear leadership, capability development, supervision and performance management.
* Ensure compliance with food safety programs, WHS requirements, operational procedures, quality standards and regulatory audit requirements.
* Oversee food production methods, recipe and menu requirements, meal preparation standards, distribution processes and contingency planning to maintain supply to customers.
* Support regional networking events, workshops and training, and work collaboratively with other MoWSA functional units.
* Improve workflows, systems, branch processes, quality testing, reporting and operational efficiency while minimising waste.
* Contribute to budget development, track variations, support innovation and lead continuous improvement in products, processes and service delivery.
What we are looking for
* At least 5 years' experience managing food production kitchens.
* Leadership experience in a food production environment, including managing teams of staff and volunteers.
* Certificate in Commercial Cookery and experience in recipe development and menu planning.
* Strong customer service capability and excellent communication and stakeholder relationship skills.
* Experience in food safety, WHS, quality assurance, compliance, training and supervision.
* Confidence working with budgets, reports, systems, data and Microsoft Office.
* Knowledge of nutrition, special dietary requirements, texture modified meals and continuous improvement will be highly regarded.
Additional information
Please note this is a full-time position. A current National Police Clearance must be maintained, flexible hours and some after-hours work may be required, and a First Aid certificate is desirable.
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