• Position Manufacturing Operations Leader
  • Division Asset Recruitment
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Location Waikato
  • Ref# ST35340
  • Posted 28 September 2026
  • Lead people and build capability
  • Create a high-performing manufacturing team
  • Roles available for AM and PM shifts

We’re recruiting for a well-established manufacturing business looking for an experienced people leader to take ownership of a production team within a fast-paced, highly automated environment.

While manufacturing experience is important, this role is fundamentally about people. You’ll set the tone on the floor, provide clear direction, coach and develop your team, and create an environment where people understand what’s expected of them, take ownership of their work and feel proud of what they achieve together.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Production Manager, you’ll lead the day-to-day performance and development of your team while ensuring safety, quality and production standards are consistently achieved.

You’ll be a visible and approachable leader who works from strong principles, doing what you say you will do, treating people with respect, holding people accountable and making decisions that are right for the team and the wider business.

You’ll be responsible for:

  • Leading, coaching and developing a production team
  • Creating clear expectations, ownership and accountability
  • Building capability through regular feedback, training and development
  • Making safety the first consideration in how work is carried out
  • Maintaining high standards across quality, production and housekeeping
  • Driving continuous improvement through systems such as 5S and TPM
  • Helping create a positive, respectful and high-performing workplace culture

About you

You’ll bring experience leading people within a manufacturing, production or similarly fast-paced operational environment. More importantly, you’ll be someone who genuinely enjoys leading people. You can have honest conversations, set boundaries and expectations, coach rather than simply direct and earn respect through consistency and the way you conduct yourself.

You’ll ideally bring:

  • Previous team leadership or supervisory experience within manufacturing
  • A strong commitment to health and safety
  • Proven ability to coach, develop and motivate people
  • A practical, calm and solutions-focused approach
  • The confidence to manage performance and maintain standards
  • Strong communication skills across different levels of a business
  • An understanding of continuous improvement, Lean, 5S or TPM would be advantageous
  • Experience within an automated manufacturing environment would be beneficial

Why consider this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to have a genuine impact, not only on production performance, but on the experience and development of the people you lead.

If you’re a manufacturing leader who believes strong results come from clear expectations, good principles, capable people and a team that takes ownership, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Amy at Asset Recruitment 07 839 3685

Amy
Or, for further information about this job, please contact:
Amy Sutton - Recruitment Consultant - Permanent

Please complete the following form to send a link to the position Manufacturing Operations Leader to a friend: