General Manager - Operations

INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975.

 

Rigid Plastic Packaging
Based in Australia

Salary: Commensurate with experience

 

The Company:

Pact Packaging Australia is part of one of Australasia’s leading packaging, recycling and sustainability businesses, delivering innovative solutions across consumer and industrial markets.

With advanced manufacturing capability, significant investment in recycling infrastructure, and a genuine commitment to the Circular Economy, Pact partners with many of the region’s most recognised brands across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, household and industrial sectors.

Driven by innovation, operational excellence and sustainability, Pact continues to lead the way in transforming packaging and manufacturing for a more sustainable future.

 

The Opportunity:

Pact Packaging Australia is seeking an accomplished and commercially astute General Manager – Operations to lead and optimise a complex national manufacturing operation.

This is a high-impact leadership role focused on driving operational excellence, building high-performing teams, and embedding a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and safety across multiple manufacturing sites and technologies.

Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the successful candidate will play a critical role in translating strategy into disciplined operational execution while improving performance across safety, quality, service, cost and asset utilisation.

The role offers the opportunity to influence large-scale manufacturing operations within a business at the forefront of sustainable packaging and recycling innovation.

 

Key Responsibilities:

· Lead end-to-end manufacturing operations across multiple sites and production technologies
· Drive operational performance across OEE, DIFOT, waste reduction, quality, asset care and cost management
· Build and lead a high-performance operational culture focused on accountability, engagement and continuous improvement
· Champion best practice in HSE, ensuring compliance and proactive safety leadership across all operations
· Deliver operational excellence initiatives including lean manufacturing, automation and digital transformation
· Lead capital projects and operational investment programs
· Partner with commercial and supply chain functions to optimise customer outcomes and operational delivery
· Support sustainability and circular economy initiatives through innovation and manufacturing excellence
· Develop operational capability and succession pipelines across the business

 

Person Profile:

We are looking for an experienced senior operations leader with a strong background in manufacturing and a proven ability to lead complex, multi-site operations.

· Significant senior operational leadership experience within manufacturing environments
· Strong experience in plastics manufacturing, injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion and/or related processes
· Demonstrated success driving operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives
· Strong commercial and financial acumen with experience managing operational budgets and performance targets
· A track record of leading cultural transformation and developing high-performing teams
· Experience managing supply chain, logistics and operational planning functions
· A collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across multiple stakeholder groups
· Degree qualifications in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business or a related discipline

 

Why Join Pact?

This is an opportunity to join a market-leading business with genuine scale, strong investment in sustainability and a clear long-term vision.

· A senior leadership role with strategic influence
· Exposure to advanced manufacturing and sustainability innovation
· A values-led culture focused on safety, integrity and collaboration
· The opportunity to make a meaningful impact across operational performance and sustainable manufacturing outcomes

 

 

Please understand that due to the expected high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly.

 

For reasons of better legibility, the simultaneous use of the language forms male, female and diverse (f/m/d) is avoided. All personal designations apply equally to all genders.

For EU roles, candidates must be eligible to work and live in the European Union. Proof of eligibility will be required with your application.

 

Throughout 2026 & 2027 you can meet with Listgrove at the following exhibitions:
Interpack, France Innovation Plasturgie, Interplas UK, Plast Milan, Fakuma, ArabPlast, NPE 2027.

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