Production Manager

About Bradnams

The Bradnam Group is a family-owned Australian manufacturing business operating for 47 years. The Group comprises of Bradnam’s Windows and Doors, National Glass, Queensland Plastics, Cesana, and National Aluminium.

From humble beginnings in a Hervey Bay backyard, we have grown to employ over 1,700 people. We operate manufacturing sites across the East Coast of Australia from Cairns to Melbourne, supported by a nationwide network of Licensees who manufacture and sell our products.

Bradnam’s is an equal opportunity and anti-discrimination employer committed to providing a working environment that values inclusion and diversity.

As part of our recruitment process, applicants will be required to provide evidence of their Working Rights within Australia and be willing to participate in psychometric testing and undertake a pre-employment medical assessment.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and driven Production Manager to lead machining and assembly operations within our aluminium window and door manufacturing facility.

This is a critical leadership role responsible for delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality production outcomes while achieving delivery schedules, productivity targets, and cost objectives.

What We Offer

• A senior leadership role within a growing manufacturing operation
• Opportunity to drive meaningful operational improvements
• Competitive salary package
• Supportive and collaborative leadership team

About You

You are a strong operational leader with a proven track record of leading large manufacturing teams in fast-paced production environments. You thrive on accountability, performance optimisation, and developing high-performing teams.

You bring:

• Demonstrated success leading teams of 75+ employees within manufacturing or fabrication environments
• A hands on leadership style with the ability to balance strategic oversight and operational execution
• Strong knowledge of machining, fabrication, or assembly operations (aluminium experience highly regarded)
• A safety first mindset with a genuine commitment to building a proactive safety culture
• Proven experience improving DIFOT, labour efficiency, and cost-per-unit performance
• Experience implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong commercial acumen and confidence managing labour budgets and production costs
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across departments
• Resilience, decisiveness, and the ability to lead through change

You are motivated by delivering measurable results while building a culture of engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership

• Lead daily machining and assembly operations to achieve production targets
• Develop and execute production schedules in alignment with planning requirements
• Monitor workflow, capacity, and labour allocation to optimise output
• Drive strong On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) performance

2. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Supervisors and Team Leaders
• Build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
• Manage workforce planning, training, and performance management processes
• Maintain strong cross-department communication and collaboration

3. Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with WHS legislation and company safety standards
• Promote a proactive and visible safety culture
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions

4. Quality Management

• Ensure product quality meets company and customer standards
• Reduce rework and waste through improved process control and capability development
• Partner with Quality teams to address defects and drive improvement initiatives

5. Continuous Improvement

• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives and process optimisation projects
• Improve productivity, labour utilisation, and operational efficiency
• Monitor KPIs and implement corrective actions where required

6. Cost Control & Performance

• Manage labour budgets and production costs
• Improve cost-per-unit performance
• Contribute to capital investment planning and equipment upgrades

7. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Liaise with Planning, Procurement, and Sales to ensure production alignment
• Coordinate with Maintenance to minimise downtime and maximise equipment reliability

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Delivery In Full On-Time (DIFOT)
• Labour productivity & efficiency
• Cost per unit
• Rework rates
• Safety performance (LTIFR / incidents)
• Staff engagement & retention
• Output vs. plan

Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in a manufacturing leadership role
• Proven experience managing large production teams (75+ employees)
• Strong background in fabrication, machining, or assembly operations
• Experience in aluminium manufacturing or similar industry highly desirable
• Demonstrated leadership and people management capability
• Strong understanding of lean manufacturing principles
• Solid financial acumen and cost management capability
• Excellent communication, planning, and problem-solving skills

Qualifications

• Trade qualification or engineering background preferred
• Certificate IV or Diploma in Leadership, Manufacturing, or Operations (desirable)