Production Manager - Timaru

Overview

Join McCain Foods as a Production Manager at our Timaru French Fry manufacturing facility, playing a pivotal role in leading critical operations. This position is central to ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement, helping produce beloved food products across New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion health and safety culture within the Production Department through behavioral observations, incident reporting, injury management, and operational risk controls.
• Define strategic production direction and execute plant programs, policies, SOPs, and systems including One McCain (SAP), SuM, and MDI platforms.
• Control daily production performance metrics such as safety, quality, delivery, cost, personnel, and environmental compliance, with emphasis on schedule adherence, line efficiency, and equipment effectiveness.
• Ensure all products adhere to quality and food safety standards including HACCP, GMP, internal audits, and plant quality management systems.
• Analyze Total Production Cost, collaborating with the Plant Manager to uncover and implement cost-saving opportunities across labor, materials, overheads, and waste.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Shift Managers and production teams with clear KPIs, performance evaluations, training, personal development, and succession planning.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives through effective implementation and sustainability of gains from CI events and the MDI platform, resulting in measurable benefits.
• Manage employment relations, team engagement, absence, and Our Voice action plans within production operations.
• Ensure production aligns with environmental laws, local authority mandates, corporate standards, and McCain policies, including incident handling, emergency procedures, and responsible waste management.
• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams such as Quality, Technical, Engineering, Projects, NPD, HR, Supply & Demand, Agriculture, and Coldstore to optimize plant operations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Possess a relevant tertiary degree in food science, manufacturing, process engineering, or related fields.
• Minimum three years of verifiable management experience in food science, manufacturing, or process engineering.
• Prior experience in FMCG food processing, especially potato or vegetable processing, is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes, workplace safety, HACCP, GMP, quality, and environmental management systems.
• Strong leadership skills demonstrated by the ability to coach and develop teams to meet KPIs and performance goals.
• Familiarity with Statistical Process Control, lean methodologies, and/or Six Sigma practices.
• Proven analytical problem-solving abilities including root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and mechanical aptitude.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively across departments and levels.
• Results-driven mindset capable of handling multiple priorities in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Additional Information

You will report directly to the Plant Manager and be an integral member of the Timaru Plant Leadership Team. This role leads production through Shift Managers and Team Leaders, working closely with production staff and regional support functions to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations.

McCain embraces leadership principles centered on customer focus, innovation, empowerment, and accountability. AI and digital tools are integrated into work processes to enhance outcomes responsibly.

McCain offers a culture built on authenticity, trust, and growth opportunities. While valuing in-person collaboration, flexibility exists with a hybrid work model allowing up to two remote days weekly depending on role specifics.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, accessible recruitment practices, and respecting applicant privacy in alignment with global policies.