Head of Operations

SALARY:Excellent salary package + STI + Benefits.LOCATION:Sydney Northern Beaches. Free parking available on-site and flexible working on offer.ABOUT THE COMPANY:We have been exclusively retained by a high growth private equity backed FMCG manufacturing organisation who is a specialist within their industry and are recognised as the number one market leader in their field.With a prominent brand and instant recognition, they possess significant presence across Australia. They have built one of the best reputations and brands within the market through their high-quality service offering and genuine focus on customer experience. Through this, they have created an amazing culture of collaboration and true alignment of values evident from their consistently extremely high eNPS of 70+ and average retention of staff of more than 5+ years.Known for their premium high-quality brands, customer focused mindset and great reputation, this organisation is a prominent industry brand across the region. With double digit revenue and EBITDA growth, this organisation has doubled in size over the last 3 years and have experienced consistent year on year organic and acquisitive growth and has a strategic vision to continue this growth in the coming years. Within the next 3 years, they have plans to double in size. Due to this strategy a brand-new role has been created for a Head of Operations to work as part of the leadership team reporting directly to the CEO.ABOUT THE ROLE:Reporting to an entrepreneurial and highly influential CEO, this Head of Operations leads the delivery of procurement, production, warehousing, and logistics across 2 manufacturing and distribution sites. This role ensures customers consistently receive high-quality product and equipment on time, while building and empowering a strong team of experts in procurement, production, and warehousing.With a focus on leading and optimising the end-to-end business operations, the Head of Operations is a pivotal leadership role, with a strategic mindset, strong commercial acumen while taking a proactive, “on the floor” approach.As an extreme people leader, the Head of Operations achieves through empowering their team, by setting a clear direction and coaching. The Head of Operations will challenge the status quo, working with their team to continuously improve systems, safety, efficiency, and experience, always with an eye on delivering commercial performance.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Reporting to the CEO and working in partnership with the executive leadership team and advisory board, your key responsibilities as the Head of Operations will include:People Leadership & Culture:Lead, coach, and empower a high-performing team across procurement, production, and warehousing.Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and problem-solving.Build succession, capability, and leadership within the operations function.Set clear priorities and align the procurement, production, and warehouse teams with business goals.Translate company strategy into day-to-day operational focus, ensuring everyone knows the “why” behind their work.Be visible on the floor, approachable, and actively engaged with teams.Celebrate team achievements and build pride in operational excellence.Embed safety into daily leadership, not as a compliance exercise but as part of culture.Contribute and lead as part of Leadership teamFinance:Own and deliver the P&L for both sites, ensuring performance meets or exceeds budget while maintaining quality.Oversee inbound and outbound freight, ensuring spend is within budget and freight partners meet agreed KPIs.Build and maintain strong relationships with freight suppliers alongside the Procurement Manager.Work Place Health & Safety:Under guidance from Safety Advisor, lead the WHS function for sites.Promote a proactive health and safety culture focused on injury prevention, risk management, and consistent understanding of WHS responsibilities at all levels.Ensure all risk assessments and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are completed.Monitor and enforce adherence to organisational safety standards, escalating any non-compliance or risk concerns as required.Ensure all employees are trained and accountable for safe work practices.Develop, implement, and oversee WHS systems and processes aligned with governance and quality standards.Monitor, measure, and report on WHS performance and key indicators to strengthen organisational safety culture.Lead by example with a safety-first approach, supporting capability development within the Operations managers and team.Effectively implement any new systems, procedures and/or equipment, consulting with the team and putting adequate control measures in place.Build effective WH&S reporting and use insights to strengthen safety culture.Quality:Ensure the relevant quality specs and appropriate levels of raw materials inventory and finished goods are maintained.Set and manage machinery maintenance schedules across all sites - manage performance of equipment to relevant breakdown KPIs.Key Quality accreditations across all sites are maintained and renewed according to requirements – including but not limited to, HACCP, Organise and Fair trade, SQF.Drive business improvement initiatives, streamline processes, and act as an escalation point for complex operational and technical issues.Operational Standards:Ensure that all finished goods are delivered in full on time and with no errors (within relevant KPI setting).Develop and implement a system of Continuous Improvement.Develop, implement and maintain a system of reporting that is consistent across all sites.Lead the execution of any operational integration of new manufacturing facilities or sites that may be acquired or become part of the group.SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:Proven experience with a strong track record in FMCG manufacturing/production environments.Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, foster a positive work environment, and drive performance.Proven expertise in packaging, processing and plant technologies.Good understanding of WH&S legislation and requirements across multiple different environments.Demonstrated working knowledge of WHS policies and procedures, HACCP & SOP compliance. Ability to develop, document and educate on all WH&S requirements.Sound financial acumen and commercial awareness.A proven champion of manufacturing excellence tools, systems and leadership practices.Experience partnering with employee groups and representatives in a leadership capacity.A strong track record as a coach, with excellent engagement and communication skills.Strong analytical capabilities to identify operational issues, interpret data, and make informed decisions.Overall, you have a track record of adding value through an absolute understanding of key business drivers; the capacity to drive change; and the ability to influence performance.This is a high growth scale up business which will in the next 2-3 years, be a relatively large business, therefore, you must display the hunger, energy and drive that you are willing to be hands-on, not afraid of a challenge whilst having the gravitas to communicate and influence an impressive Executive team and Board.Culture fit is key, our client is a high growth private equity backed business. The Head of Operations needs to have immediate credibility and be able to earn the trust and confidence of the CEO, the Board and the executive leadership team. They will demonstrate proven commercial acumen and strategic thinking supported by a high level of competency in general management. You will have experience in working with, advising and/or supporting CEO/Boards/Executive Leadership team.BENEFITS AND PERKS:This organisation will provide the right entrepreneurial leader the opportunity to lead the operations function and be instrumental in growing the enterprise value for the group. In addition, other key benefits include:Outstanding opportunity to partner with a prominent CEO, Executive Leadership team and board and prove yourself in a highly successful fast growth organisation;Access to an inspirational leadership team and board who have been awarded and recognised as some of the best in the industry;Work for a leader who lives and breathes their purpose and values in everything they do having also been recognised in the industry for top class leadership;Opportunity to be part of a product and consumer category that you will love and be proud about;Extremely rare opportunity to be a part of a high growth journey where you will be instrumental in driving real enterprise value and shareholder wealth;Be part of a highly engaged, winning team with a genuine positive culture;Additional employee perks that incentivise and reward team performance and behaviours;Highly strategic and commercial role with longer term future development pathways;Own the function providing you with unlimited opportunity to make a difference. The destiny is truly in your hands;A workplace that's strongly focused on customer experience and on the well-being and happiness of its staff.APPLY:If you are ready to RECODE your career, please apply clicking the link and send your resume in word format. For a confidential discussion, please reach out to Richard Skaf directly via email richard.skaf@recodegroup.com.au.FOLLOW US:Follow Recode Group on LinkedIn and visit www.recodegroup.com.au for further information and for other interesting job opportunities.