Operations and Engineering Manager

A well-established, family-owned bulk materials business in South East Queensland is seeking an experienced Operations & Engineering Manager to take ownership of a complex, engineering-intensive production operation. This is a key management role reporting directly to the General Manager of Operations, with genuine upward influence and autonomy to run your own area of the business.

About the Role

Taking ownership of a site that processes bulk construction materials through a heavily automated, PLC-controlled production and drying operations, you'll take full accountability for production output, plant reliability and engineering integrity, balancing hands-on plant leadership with a longer-term view on asset renewal and continuous improvement.

This role has deliberately been positioned as an engineering-led position rather than a traditional operations management role, as we're looking for someone who can get into the technical detail of complex processing equipment, not just manage the people running it.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production and processing operations to meet volume, quality and cost targets
• Own the engineering integrity of PLC-controlled production equipment, including fault-finding, performance optimisation and reliability improvement
• Lead capital and asset renewal projects (infrastructure, control systems and plant upgrades), engaging and working closely with specialist engineering contractors and designers
• Apply structured continuous improvement methods to reduce downtime and lift production performance
• Provide hands-on technical leadership to a small team of production and plant supervisors, several of whom are experienced long-term operators
• Coordinate closely with sales and planning functions to ensure production keeps pace with demand
• Manage budgets, reporting and inventory/stock processes for the operation
• Champion safety leadership and compliance across all production and engineering activities

What You'll Bring

• Tertiary qualification in engineering (mechanical, electrical, process or similar) or an equivalent technical background with strong engineering depth
• Proven experience managing a production or processing operation with complex, automated (PLC-controlled) equipment
• Demonstrated experience leading capital projects and asset replacement/renewal programs
• Strong people leadership skills, with the credibility to manage experienced, technically-minded frontline staff
• Commercial acumen and comfort owning budgets, KPIs and reporting
• A hands-on, site-based leadership style

What's On Offer

• A genuine key management role
• Autonomy to run your own area of the business against a clear set of targets
• The opportunity to shape the engineering and asset strategy of a growing operation

How to Apply
This search is being managed exclusively and confidentially by Sourceable Talent. Register your interest by applying directly and we will be in touch regarding your application.