Job Description:
Reporting to the Supply Director, ANZ Pet Nutrition we are seeking an experienced Plant Director to lead our Wodonga manufacturing site - the largest manufacturing facility across Mars ANZ, with approximately 250 Associates.
This is a critical leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, people leadership and strategic delivery across a complex manufacturing environment.
In addition, you will lead the safe, efficient and cost-effective production of superior quality pet food while building a highly engaged and high-performing workforce. Partnering closely with cross-functional teams across Supply, RD, Commercial and Finance, you will play a key role in delivering the Supply OGSM and broader business strategy for the site.
What will be your key responsibilities?
- Embed a strong Safety Culture: Build and maintain a best-in-class safety environment, driving both lead and lag safety metrics, incident reporting, safety committees, and continuous learning initiatives.
- Deliver Quality Excellence: Drive application of MSE standards and quality processes to achieve right-first-time production, reduce non-quality costs (NQC), and maintain superior consumer-rated quality.
- Drive Operational Efficiency: Deploy Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and MSE frameworks across all pillars to create an engaged, efficient workforce and optimize plant performance.
- Manage Cost Budgets: Oversee site budgets for direct and indirect costs, ensuring controllable manufacturing costs per tonne remain on target while delivering transformation and value leadership initiatives.
- Lead and Develop People: Build an engaged workforce through talent development, performance management, succession planning, and our signature leadership processes; negotiate and manage employee agreements.
- Collaborate Cross-functionally: Partner with Supply (Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, Transformation), Demand, RD, Commercial, and Sales Finance to align operations with broader business strategy.
What are we looking for?
You are a visible and inspiring leader with the ability to influence at all levels and shape the future of one of the most significant manufacturing operations within Mars. You bring a passion for operational excellence, people leadership and continuous improvement, along with the ability to lead through complexity and drive high performance. In addition, you bring:
- Significant manufacturing and supply leadership experience within complex operational environments.
- Proven experience leading large-scale manufacturing sites, ideally as a Plant Director or equivalent.
- Strong expertise in TPM and operational excellence methodologies, ideally within MSE or similar systems.
- Exceptional people leadership capability with the ability to inspire large teams through complexity and change.
- Demonstrated commercial acumen and ability to balance operational performance with strategic business outcomes.
- A track record delivering results through cross-functional collaboration and transformation leadership.
- Experience leading safety, quality and continuous improvement cultures at scale.
Why you’ll love working for Mars:
- Purpose: Help craft beloved brands with a legacy of over 100 years of local manufacturing making products that people and pets will love all while helping to build a more sustainable future.
- People: A culture that values your contributions, fosters leadership, and recognises the impact you make. Your work truly matters here.
- Development: Shape your career with personalised development and real opportunities to grow from day one.
- Enjoy a team and business environment that is invested in helping you manage and grow your energy for work and life.
- Legacy: Work for a proudly family-owned company with 100 years of local manufacturing.
- Community: Be part of a passionate team of pet lovers!
Mars is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.
We know everyone’s needs are different, and we’re committed to making our application process accessible and supportive for all candidates. If you require any adjustments along the way, simply let us know in your application form. We’ll work with you to understand what will help you feel comfortable and supported.
