Manufacturing Manager - Ruminant

The SunRice Group is an Australian ASX-listed branded food group, comprising multiple businesses, assets and operations across Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, the United States, The Pacific Islands and Asia.  SunRice was built by the Australian rice industry over many decades and today is one of Australia’s leading branded food exporters, with approximately 2,000 employees and operations in 11 countries.

SunRice is a great place to work, providing a real opportunity for passionate people to make a difference.

About the role

At SunRice, we're passionate about feeding the future and investing in the people, assets and capability that will get us there.

We're seeking a senior manufacturing leader to lead our CopRice Ruminant manufacturing network across multiple Victorian sites. This is a highly influential role with accountability for manufacturing, logistics, safety, quality, people and operational performance.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you'll drive operational excellence, develop high-performing teams, influence long-term investment decisions and shape the future capability of our manufacturing network.

We're looking for someone who knows what great looks like. A curious, commercially minded leader who has operated in sophisticated manufacturing environments and knows how to balance technical excellence, strong people leadership and commercial outcomes.

With responsibility for multiple sites, substantial operational budgets and a large workforce, this is an opportunity to influence strategy, drive transformational improvement and make a lasting impact across one of Australia's leading agribusiness and food manufacturing businesses.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading manufacturing and logistics operations across multiple sites, including Leongatha, Cobden and Tongala, ensuring strong performance across safety, quality, service and cost
• Building, coaching and developing high-performing leadership teams that foster accountability, engagement and continuous improvement
• Driving operational excellence initiatives to improve throughput, reduce waste and maximise asset utilisation
• Leading Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes and partnering closely with supply chain, maintenance, quality and commercial teams
• Developing and executing manufacturing strategies that support long-term business growth and operational capability
• Embedding a strong safety-first culture and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and quality requirements
• Managing operational budgets, identifying cost improvement opportunities and driving sustainable productivity gains
• Leading capital investment planning and evaluating opportunities to optimise manufacturing assets
• Championing a quality-focused culture that delivers consistent product performance and customer satisfaction
• Providing strategic operational leadership, reporting on performance and contributing to broader business planning

About You

You are an authentic and engaging leader who combines operational excellence with a genuine passion for developing people.

You enjoy solving complex challenges, questioning the status quo and finding smarter ways of doing things. You're equally comfortable discussing long-term strategy as you are rolling up your sleeves to support operational teams.

Having worked within large, sophisticated manufacturing environments, you understand how to drive sustainable improvements across safety, quality, productivity and cost, while building a culture where people can perform at their best.

You know how to get the most from assets, systems and teams, and you're motivated by the opportunity to leave an operation stronger than you found it.

You will bring:

• Significant senior manufacturing leadership experience within stockfeed, feed milling, FMCG, food manufacturing or a comparable complex manufacturing environment
• Proven success leading multiple sites or large-scale manufacturing operations
• Strong people leadership capability, with experience building capability, driving performance and leading through change
• Deep understanding of manufacturing economics, including cost control, productivity, asset utilisation and operational efficiency
• Experience implementing continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance customer, operational and financial priorities
• A track record of improving safety, quality and operational performance within complex manufacturing environments
• Experience working with unionised workforces and diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong problem-solving skills, a naturally curious mindset and the ability to challenge the status quo constructively
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline

What’s in it for you

At SunRice Group, we believe great work starts with feeling supported, valued and inspired. When you join our team, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth and everyday life.

• SunRice Product Allowance: Take home a taste of what we do best. You’ll receive a weekly allowance of SunRice Group products, so you can enjoy and share the food we’re proud to make.
• Leave: Enjoy competitive leave benefits, including volunteer leave and the option to purchase additional leave when you need extra flexibility.
• Wellness Reimbursement: Your wellbeing matters. Twice a year, you’ll be reimbursed for fitness memberships or other health and wellbeing initiatives that help you feel your best

At SunRice, you'll have the opportunity to lead a critical manufacturing operation, influence strategy, develop exceptional teams and help shape the future of one of Australia's most recognised agribusiness and food manufacturing businesses.

All correspondence will be dealt with in strict confidence.

SunRice is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SunRice will consider qualified applicants for employment based on their merit, individual skills, qualifications and other appropriate criteria relevant to the role for which they are applying.