General Manager - Manufacturing

Location: melbourne
Job Type: permanent
Salary: Competitive
Contact: David Oliver
Six Degrees Executive are proud to be partnering with a market-leading industrial manufacturing business with a strong national footprint and deep roots across Australia. With investment backing and a values-driven leadership team, the business is entering an exciting phase focused on customer, people, operations, and long-term sustained growth.

As part of this evolution, our client is seeking a General Manager – Manufacturing  to provide strategic leadership & influencing across its national operations. This is a newly created role, designed to strengthen operational execution, address performance challenges, and drive step-change improvements across multiple sites.

The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on the executive leadership team, the GM will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence across the organisation’s national plant network. With both strategic oversight and hands-on influence, you will be accountable for:
  • Leading a national Operational Excellence team and influencing Operations Managers across all national sites.
  • Driving improvements in production efficiency, on-time delivery, remakes, and overall plant productivity.
  • Addressing equipment reliability and maintenance effectiveness to unlock sustained operational performance.
  • Embedding disciplined operating rhythms, accountability, and a customer-first mindset across operations.
  • Building capability within site and regional leadership teams with the opportunity to deliver results.
  • Partnering with the executive team to shape long-term operational strategy, while tackling immediate cost, efficiency, and performance pressures.
This role will be based in Melbourne, but will be a national role with travel involved. 

Skills & Expertise Required
We are looking for an experienced manufacturing leader with credibility, resilience, and a track record of operational transformation.

The ideal profile includes:
  • 7+ years’ experience in senior multi-site manufacturing or operations leadership roles. 
  • Strong exposure to industrial, building materials, metals/steel, packaging, or related industries.
  • Proven success improving reliability, productivity, and operational efficiency in complex environments.
  • Tertiary qualifications in Engineering or related discipline. 
  • A visible, hands-on leader who builds trust quickly with frontline teams and executives alike
  • Commercially astute, able to balance cost and efficiency with quality and service
  • Comfortable creating constructive pressure and driving accountability without alienating stakeholders.
Why?
This is a rare chance to join a tight-knit executive team in a business-critical role. You will have national scope, significant influence, and the platform to shape the operational future of a respected manufacturer. With strong backing, clear purpose, and a market with growing demand the opportunity offers challenge, impact, and long-term potential growth.

What’s Next?
If you think this opportunity sounds right for you, click APPLY NOW to send your application or contact David Oliver for a confidential discussion on 0410 950 370 or davido@sixdegreesexecutive.com.au

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