About Kerry
Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.About the role
The Plant Manager will be responsible for Leading the Operations and Warehouse Site Teams to achieve quality, efficiency, cost and delivery targets which are consistent with business objectives with specific regard to plant utilization, process improvement, cost containment, labour and resource utilization. Facilitate continuous improvement to ensure practices are aligned with Kerry Group Continuous Improvement Practices and develop and lead teams to create and foster a team environment and culture which is consistent with the Site Objectives and the strategic direction of the Kerry Group.
- Reports to:
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Key responsibilities
- Lead and inspire the site’s Operations and Warehouse teams to achieve high performance.
- Drive cost-effective production through robust operational systems and lean manufacturing practices.
- Develop and manage the manufacturing budget, ensuring financial control and minimizing costs.
- Plan and optimize production schedules to meet quality, delivery, and budget targets.
- Utilize data and performance metrics to enhance manufacturing, quality, inventory, and delivery outcomes.
- Establish reporting mechanisms to analyze manufacturing costs, production efficiency, delivery performance, inventory management, and customer service levels.
- Ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards, including GMP, HACCP, and WHS.
- Provide resources, training, and controls to uphold Kerry and third-party quality standards.
- Actively lead and support the Site HACCP Team and monitor quality performance.
- Oversee warehousing and inventory control processes to ensure efficient receipt, storage, and dispatch of raw materials and finished goods.
- Align warehouse operations with customer needs and cost-efficiency goals.
- Foster a culture of safety, collaboration, and accountability across the site.
- Promote safe work practices and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
- Support employee development through consistent performance management.
- Build strong succession pipelines and mentor future leaders within the organization.
- Develop and implement strategic plans aligned with site and regional goals.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure site performance meets Kerry Group standards.
- Operate within Kerry policies and local environmental and risk management requirements.
- Ensure workplace culture, structures, and resources support business plans and customer service commitments
Qualifications and skills
- Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing operations.
- Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams.
- Strong commercial acumen with a focus on efficiency, cost control, and performance metrics.
- In-depth knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and WHS compliance standards.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Demonstrated success in driving transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.