Operations Manager - Converting

Lead the Converting operations at Essity's Kawerau manufacturing site. Reporting to the Site Manager and forming part of the Site Leadership Team, this is a key leadership role with accountability for the safe, efficient and reliable performance of a significant manufacturing operation. You'll have overall responsibility for delivering the annual operating plan across safety, environment, quality, production, cost and operational efficiency. Leading a team of operational leaders and approximately 90 employees across the wider function, you'll translate site and business priorities into clear goals and ensure your teams have the capability, information and support they need to deliver.

Responsibilities

Lead a strong health, safety and environmental culture, with visible leadership on the factory floor and a focus on preventing harm; Deliver the Converting annual business plan across production, quality, cost, efficiency, utilisation and reliability; Lead, coach and develop the Resource Support and Shift/Line leadership teams, building capability and accountability at every level; Create a high-performing, team-based culture where people understand priorities and are empowered to improve how work gets done; Champion continuous improvement, using structured problem-solving and manufacturing excellence practices to reduce losses, waste and downtime; Monitor operational performance and use data to identify gaps, priorities and improvement opportunities; Work closely with maintenance, supply chain, quality, paper manufacturing and other support functions to optimise end-to-end site performance; Support maintenance strategies and capital projects within the Converting operation; Ensure products are delivered safely, on time, to specification and at an appropriate cost; Build effective relationships across the site and wider business, ensuring decisions consider upstream and downstream impacts; Contribute to the development and execution of the Kawerau site's medium and longer-term strategy; Overall responsibility for delivering the annual operating plan across safety, environment, quality, production, cost and operational efficiency; Lead a team of operational leaders and approximately 90 employees across the wider function; Shape the longer-term direction of the Kawerau site as a member of the Site Leadership Team

Requirements

A tertiary qualification in Engineering or a related technical discipline; Significant line management experience, ideally around 10 years, within a continuous, high-volume and complex manufacturing environment; Experience leading leaders and operational teams in a multi-shift manufacturing environment; A strong track record of delivering improvements in safety, quality, productivity, efficiency and cost; Experience implementing or embedding significant operational or organisational change; An understanding of continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence methodologies; Strong commercial judgement and the ability to translate broader business objectives into meaningful operational priorities; The ability to build trusted relationships and influence effectively across different functions and levels of an organisation; A practical, visible leadership style, with a genuine commitment to coaching and developing others; Confidence using operational data and systems to make informed decisions and drive performance

Nice to have

Experience with Lean Manufacturing; Experience with SAP; Experience with HSE&R/ISO standards; Experience in paper manufacturing