The Director, Manufacturing Operations will lead and evolve manufacturing operations at our Brisbane site, responsible for managing manufacturing and engineering (manufacturing support) to deliver short‐to‐mid‐term targets in line with the Australian manufacturing strategy.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead, develop, and transform a multi‐layered manufacturing and engineering department, strengthening leadership across teams.
* Deliver operational outcomes across people, quality, capacity, customer service, and cost, owning department performance including financial outcomes, headcount, and resource allocation.
* Develop and execute capacity plans that respond to changing demand while improving agility and cost efficiency.
* Anticipate and manage risks to volume, quality, and cost in partnership with cross‐department stakeholders.
* Drive consistent deployment of operational excellence initiatives across the site.
* Lead large‐scale manufacturing and improvement initiatives, embedding lean and continuous improvement practices.
* Lift yield, productivity, and cost performance through structured improvement programs.
* Shape the manufacturing and engineering strategy and contribute to the transformation roadmap.
* Partner with R&D, Quality, and Engineering to transition new technologies and products into manufacturing, ensuring successful industrialisation with focus on ramp‐up, yield, and cost outcomes.
* Develop and execute a talent strategy that supports long‐term site capability, succession, and growth; coach and develop leaders to build a high‐performing, accountable culture.
* Foster an inclusive, safe, and collaborative environment aligned with Cochlear's values.
What Makes This Opportunity Unique?
This role offers the chance to lead in a highly sophisticated manufacturing environment, influence transformation at scale, and make a visible impact on both business outcomes and people's lives, while being supported to grow your own career and develop the leaders around you.
About You
To succeed in this role you bring credibility, leadership depth, and operational judgement to lead in a complex, regulated environment while driving meaningful change. You are an accomplished manufacturing leader with a strong track record of delivering results in complex, highly regulated environments, combined operational excellence with transformation capability, and can lead large teams, influence across departments, and create sustainable performance.
Experience & Expertise
* Significant experience in precision manufacturing, medical devices, or other highly regulated industries, working in operational management, including manufacturing and engineering departments, leading teams of more than 150.
* Planning and executing short‐to‐medium (1‐3 year) operational strategies delivering impactful change.
* Demonstrated success delivering large‐scale transformation and continuous improvement programs.
* Strong commercial acumen, with a clear understanding of manufacturing cost drivers, productivity, and operational trade‐offs.
* Experience embedding lean methodologies and operational excellence at site level.
* Strong track record supporting new product introduction and industrialisation in manufacturing environments.
* Proven ability to lead and develop people managers, building strong, engaged, and capable teams.
* Strong problem‐solving and decision‐making capability in complex operational environments.
* Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across departments and senior stakeholder groups.
* Demonstrated experience leading through change, ambiguity, and transformation.
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