Manufacturing Manager

Dandenong South, VIC | Full‑time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Manufacturing Manager to lead our factory operation of approximately 60 employees within a 140 person business. Our manufacturing environment operates across multiple work centres, including CNC metal and timber machining, sub assemblies and final assembly, producing high‑quality architectural building products.

Reporting to the COO, this role has end‑to‑end accountability for production flow, safety, quality and delivery. You will work closely with Planning, Purchasing, Delivery, Design and Factory Improvement Engineers to ensure products move efficiently from design release through machining, assembly and dispatch.

You will continue developing and embeding a lean operating model and play a key role in improving factory performance, consistency and capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end production flow across multiple work centres, leading a team of experienced work‑centre leaders and synchronising CNC machining, downstream processes and final assembly to achieve right‑first‑time, on‑time delivery.

• Lead, coach and hold accountable a team of capable work‑centre leaders, building strong execution, consistency and ownership across the factory.

• Provide visible safety leadership, ensuring safe systems of work, compliance, and a positive safety culture throughout the factory.

• Drive and sustain a Lean manufacturing environment, including standard work, visual management, problem solving and continuous improvement.

• Partner closely with Design Engineers to ensure design intent is manufacturable, clearly understood and translated into repeatable factory processes.

• Work collaboratively with Factory / Process Improvement Engineers to identify constraints, eliminate waste, improve flow, productivity and quality.

• Coordinate daily with Planning, Purchasing and Delivery teams to align priorities, material availability and delivery commitments.

• Strengthen “Quality at Source” practices and reduce rework and NCRs through disciplined root‑cause problem solving.

About You

• Proven experience leading production in a multi‑work‑centre lean manufacturing environment.

• Knowledge of CNC machining, ideally with aluminium extrusions, and downstream assembly operations.

• Comfortable working closely with engineering teams, bridging design intent and shop‑floor execution.

• A confident, practical people leader who can lead experienced supervisors and drive accountability.

• Clear communicator who operates effectively across production, engineering, planning and supply chain functions.

Why Join Us

This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role with genuine influence. You will lead a substantial factory operation and work closely with engineering and planning teams to improve how products are designed, manufactured and delivered. If you enjoy being on the floor, solving problems and making factories work better every day, this role offers real scope and impact.