Production and Planning Manager

About the role

We are a busy cabinetry and joinery manufacturer, producing a high volume of custom and production work. We're looking for an experienced Production & Planning Manager to take ownership of the factory floor — leading our team of Team Leader Cabinet Makers, Machinest Team Leader and Labourers, scheduling and coordinating workflow across multiple concurrent jobs, and making sure we consistently deliver quality work on time. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced production environment and takes real pride in running a tight, safe, and well-organised operation.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, own, and maintain the production schedule across all active jobs, balancing workload, staff capacity, and delivery deadlines.
• Sequence jobs through the factory (cutting, machining, assembly, finishing, dispatch) to keep work flowing efficiently and minimise downtime or bottlenecks.
• Proactively identify scheduling conflicts, material shortages, or capacity issues, and adjust plans early to protect delivery dates.
• Track job progress against schedule and report status to management, flagging delays or risks as soon as they arise.
• Work closely with Procurement Manager and Detailer Lead to ensure the schedule is deliverable and materials are on-site when needed.
• Lead, supervise, and coordinate the work of cabinet makers, machinists, and labourers, allocating tasks according to skill, priority, and workload.
• Set clear expectations, monitor performance and productivity, and provide regular feedback and coaching to the team.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new production staff, and identify ongoing training or upskilling needs (including apprenticeships).
• Manage staff rosters, leave, and attendance in coordination with management, ensuring adequate coverage to meet production demands.
• Champion a strong health and safety culture on the factory floor, ensuring compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and WorkSafe NZ requirements.

About you

• Proven experience in a production management, planning, or supervisory role within a cabinetry, joinery, furniture, or wood manufacturing environment (essential).
• Trade background or strong working knowledge of cabinet making/joinery processes and materials is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a production team of 15+ staff.
• Experience with production scheduling/planning, ideally using scheduling or job management software (e.g. MiTek, Cabinet Vision, or similar).
• Sound understanding of health and safety legislation and practical experience managing H&S in a manufacturing/factory setting.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to juggle multiple jobs and shifting priorities under pressure.
• Confident, hands-on leadership style — comfortable on the factory floor and able to earn the respect of tradespeople and labourers alike.
• Clear communicator, able to liaise effectively with staff, management, suppliers, and other departments.
• Practical problem-solver who can think on their feet when issues arise on the floor.
• Competent with basic computer systems (scheduling software, email, spreadsheets) for planning and reporting.