Overview
Real Pet Food Company (RPF) is a fast-growing, values-led FMCG manufacturer behind brands such as Ivory Coat, Farmers Market, Nature's Gift, Trilogy and Fussy Cat. We're looking for an exceptional Site Operations Manager to lead our largest wet food manufacturing site in Yatala. This is a high-impact, high-accountability leadership role at the heart of our business.
The Opportunity
As Site Operations Manager, you will take full ownership of the day-to-day performance and future capability of our Yatala site — a complex, fast-paced, short shelf-life operation producing fresh, raw-ingredient pet food. This is not an easy site — and that's exactly why it matters.
We're looking for a leader who:
* Wants to see the business thrive, not just "run"
* Takes personal pride in building something meaningful
* Understands that while the work can be demanding, it is deeply valued by the business, by pet parents, and by the teams who show up every day
* Has the managerial courage to challenge the status quo and lean into process improvements that contribute to positive commercial outcomes
You will champion safety, quality and reliability, lead with care and accountability, and create an environment where people feel supported, challenged and proud of the role they play. Reporting to our Chief Operations Officer, you will have 6 direct reports and form the Yatala Leadership Team.
What You'll Be Responsible For Leading the Site
* Take full accountability for safety, quality, production, cost, service and people outcomes
* Lead a multi-shift, wet manufacturing environment, including raw meat processing
* Set the tone for a strong safety-first culture, with visible leadership across all shifts
* Ensure operational stability while continuously improving performance
* Lead by example and hold others to account in a fast-paced environment focused on operational excellence across production, engineering, maintenance, operations, warehousing, inventory and supply chain
Operations, Engineering & Reliability
* Oversee all daily site operations including manufacturing, maintenance, reliability, planning, warehousing and logistics
* Drive asset performance through effective maintenance strategies, reliability engineering and OEE improvement
* Work collaboratively with SMEs to identify and implement opportunities to reduce waste, improve labour efficiency and manage overtime responsibly
* Ensure systems, standards and processes support food safety, compliance and consistency
Continuous Improvement & Growth
* Champion a continuous improvement mindset grounded in data, root cause analysis and structured problem-solving
* Implement improvements that balance pace with sustainability — doing things properly, not just quickly
* Stay current with best-practice manufacturing and production management approaches
People & Culture
* Lead, coach and develop a strong site leadership team with SMEs in Operations, CI, Production and Warehousing
* Empower teams to grow, building clear development and career pathways
* Create a culture of accountability, respect and care
* Work closely with ANZ Operations and central support teams (Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Corporate) to ensure alignment and shared success
About You
You are a credible, commercially astute and grounded manufacturing leader who leads from the floor as comfortably as you do in the leadership room. You bring:
* Senior leadership experience within FMCG, fresh food, meat processing or short shelf-life manufacturing
* Proven experience leading multi-shift, high-throughput operations
* Deep capability across safety, quality, production, reliability and people leadership
* A calm, measured leadership style that builds trust quickly
* Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to navigate complexity
* A proactive, problem-solving mindset — willing to challenge the status quo for better outcomes
Technical & Professional Background
* Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
* Experience with retorting, pouch technology, drying or wet processing is highly regarded
* Experience implementing new systems, process changes and training programs
* Proven ability to manage and execute strategies related to budgeting, planning, workforce management and operational metrics
* Lean Six Sigma capability or certification highly regarded
What Matters Most Here
At Real Pet Food, how you lead matters as much as what you deliver. We're looking for someone who:
* Leads with integrity, care and courage
* Takes ownership and follows through
* Believes safety and quality are never negotiable
* Invests in people and holds them to high standards
* Wants to be part of something bigger than themselves
The work isn't always easy — but it is meaningful, respected and valued.
What's On Offer
* A rare opportunity to lead RPF's largest and most critical manufacturing site
* A values-led organisation where your leadership genuinely matters
* Strong support from ANZ Operations and functional experts
* Competitive senior leadership package including base salary, superannuation and performance incentives
* The chance to leave a legacy — for your team, the business, and the pets who rely on us
Important: This is a wet manufacturing site that processes raw meat. You must be comfortable working in this type of environment.
What is next
* 2-3 face to face interviews including a site visit
* Pre Employment Medical (including Drug and Alcohol testing)
* Relevant background checks including 2 work related references and Psychometric Assessment
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