About the Role
Thank you for your interest in joining Dechra Veterinary Products Australia — we’re delighted you want to learn more about us.
At Dechra, our purpose is simple and powerful: to sustainably develop, manufacture and supply high‑quality veterinary pharmaceuticals that improve the lives of animals worldwide.
With nearly 2,000 colleagues globally, our values — D edication, E njoyment, C ourage, H onesty, R elationships and A mbition — guide how we work together and how we deliver for veterinarians, animals and their owners.
We’re seeking an experienced Operations Manager to join our Somersby site and play a key leadership role within our Manufacturing & Supply division.
The Opportunity
As our Operations Manager, you will lead day‑to‑day operations in our GMP‑regulated manufacturing facility. You’ll have responsibility for production performance, regulatory compliance, team leadership and continuous improvement across the site.
As a member of the Site Leadership Team, you will collaborate closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain and Warehousing to ensure we deliver high‑quality veterinary health products safely, efficiently and on time.
This role is perfect for someone who leads with values, builds strong teams, and thrives in a continuous‑improvement environment.
The Challenge
* Lead and mentor the production team to deliver safe, efficient and compliant manufacturing.
* Oversee daily production schedules, resource planning and workflow optimisation.
* Ensure full compliance with GMP, APVMA and quality system requirements.
* Drive performance across key production metrics, including OEE, yields and Right‑First‑Time outcomes.
* Foster a culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement.
* Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance and Quality to ensure operational reliability and efficiency.
* Manage production budgets, labour utilisation and cost optimisation.
* Support audits, CAPA management and new product introductions.
About You
You are an experienced people leader with strong GMP manufacturing knowledge and a passion for operational excellence.
Essential Experience & Skills
* 5–10+ years’ experience in manufacturing operations (pharma, veterinary, FMCG or similar GMP‑regulated environment).
* Strong understanding of GMP, quality systems and regulatory requirements.
* Proven leadership experience across multidisciplinary teams.
* Ability to manage complex production schedules and solve operational challenges.
* Excellent communication, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
Desirable
* Tertiary qualifications in Science, Engineering, Manufacturing or a related field.
* Lean, Six Sigma or CI training/certification.
Important Safety Requirements
This role involves working in penicillin‑handling environments. Candidates must be able to:
* Work safely around penicillin‑based products.
* Declare any known penicillin hypersensitivity or severe allergies before commencing.
* Follow strict GMP and contamination‑control procedures.
Why Join Dechra?
* Be part of a global veterinary pharmaceutical leader.
* A collaborative, values‑driven and supportive culture.
* Lead meaningful operational improvements in animal health manufacturing.
* Professional development and career‑growth opportunities.
* 9‑day fortnight for full‑time employees .
* Competitive remuneration + bonus scheme.
* Employee Assistance Program.
* Wellbeing and product benefits.
* Sustainability and community initiatives.
Apply Now
If you’re a strong people leader with a passion for manufacturing excellence, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us continue delivering high‑quality veterinary health products worldwide.
A Note to Recruitment Agencies
We kindly request that agencies do not submit candidates for this position. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Dechra in any form will be considered the property of Dechra, and no fees will be paid for placements arising from unsolicited submissions.
Thank you for your understanding and for helping us maintain a smooth and respectful recruitment process.