About Us
Barden Produce is a vertically integrated farming operation that grows, packs and distributes fresh vegetables daily to multiple customers. Our business includes multiple farming operations, production and dispatch facilities, all working together as one team to deliver fresh, high-quality produce to our customers in a timely and efficient manner.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated Production Supervisor to join the Barden Produce team. This is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing production across multiple shed locations and ensuring our teams consistently achieve high standards of safety, quality, productivity and customer service.
The Production Supervisor is the level above our individual shed supervisors and will provide direction, coordination and support across production operations. The role will work closely with Site Managers, Category Managers, Shed Supervisors, Quality Control, Dispatch and other key members of the business to ensure production runs smoothly from planning through to dispatch.
This role will suit a practical, hands-on leader who can manage multiple priorities, develop supervisors and teams, identify opportunities to improve efficiency and maintain a strong focus on quality and customer requirements.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Oversee day-to-day production activities across multiple shed locations, ensuring each site is operating safely, efficiently and to agreed production targets.
Provide leadership, direction and support to production teams.
Coordinate production requirements between sites to ensure labour, equipment, consumables and production capacity are aligned with customer orders.
Monitor production performance across sites and take action where targets, standards or timelines are not being achieved.
Promote a consistent approach to production systems, standards and processes across all sheds.
People Leadership & Team Development
Lead, coach and develop Team Leaders to build a strong and accountable leadership team.
Support fellow supervisors with staff planning, allocation and performance management.
Ensure production teams are appropriately staffed to meet daily and weekly production requirements.
Set clear expectations and promote a positive, respectful and productive workplace culture.
Identify training needs and support the ongoing development of supervisors and production staff.
Production Planning & Efficiency
Plan and coordinate production runs to achieve required volumes, quality standards and customer deadlines.
Ensure consumables, packaging, crates, punnets, pallets, labels and other production requirements are available when needed.
Monitor labour and production efficiency and identify opportunities to improve productivity and reduce waste.
Work with relevant managers to balance production requirements across multiple shed locations.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve production flow, efficiency and overall performance.
Quality & Customer Requirements
Maintain a strong focus on product quality and customer specifications across all production locations.
Work closely with Quality Control and production teams to ensure produce is packed accurately and consistently to specification.
Ensure customer requirements, product specifications, labels and packing standards are understood and followed.
Identify recurring quality issues and work with relevant managers and teams to implement corrective actions.
Provide feedback to Category Managers regarding crop quality, plant size, yield, supply issues and other production factors affecting customer outcomes.
Systems, Compliance & Administration
Ensure required production paperwork and records are completed accurately and on time.
Oversee the consistent implementation and use of production systems, including 37 south and other relevant business systems.
Ensure crop numbers, labels, production records and dispatch information are accurate.
Monitor stock levels and ensure stocktakes are completed as required.
Ensure production and order updates are communicated accurately to the relevant teams.
Communication & Cross-Functional Coordination
Maintain clear and timely communication between production sheds, farming operations, Quality Control, Dispatch, Category Managers and Site Managers.
Escalate operational issues promptly and provide practical solutions where possible.
Participate in production planning and operational meetings and provide accurate performance feedback.
Build strong working relationships across the business to support the end-to-end supply of fresh produce.
Key Goals & Expectations
Customer acceptance – consistently deliver product that meets or exceeds customer specifications.
Improved efficiencies – continually improve production flow, labour utilisation, systems and processes across all shed locations.
Strong yields – maximise production output while maintaining quality and minimising waste.
Consistent leadership – build capable, accountable Shed Supervisors and high-performing production teams.
Operational reliability – ensure production runs are well planned, adequately resourced and completed on time.
Success in this role will require strong collaboration with Site Managers, Category Managers, Shed Supervisors, Quality Control, Dispatch and the wider Barden Produce team.
About You
Previous experience in a production, processing, agricultural, food manufacturing or similar supervisory/management environment.
Demonstrated experience leading teams and developing supervisors or team leaders.
Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple sites, priorities and deadlines.
A practical, hands-on approach with the ability to identify problems and implement solutions quickly.
Strong understanding of production efficiency, quality control and customer specifications.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with people at all levels of the business.
Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate record keeping and systems.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where production requirements can change quickly.
A proactive approach to continuous improvement and a willingness to take ownership of results.
What Success Looks Like
In this role, success means our production sheds operate as one coordinated team. Supervisors are supported and accountable, production targets are consistently achieved, customer specifications are met, and opportunities to improve efficiency, yield and quality are actively identified and implemented.
Pay: From $35.35 per hour
Expected hours: 30.0 – 40.0 per week
Work Location: In person
