Plant Manager - Levin Meat Processing Plant

About Alliance

Alliance Group Limited stands as a purpose-driven global supplier specializing in premium grass-fed lamb, beef, and venison. With strong commitments to supporting employees, farming families, and communities, we offer regulated, high-quality food products worldwide. Our operations span multiple sites across New Zealand's North and South Islands, emphasizing performance enhancement, innovation, and environmental responsibility.

Role Overview

We seek a seasoned Plant Manager to oversee the Levin meat processing facility. Reporting directly to the Operations Director, this senior leadership position bears responsibility for the plant's safe, efficient, compliant, and commercially successful functioning. The role involves guiding the plant's leadership team and workforce to excel in health, safety, wellbeing, production, quality, yield, cost control, compliance, and customer satisfaction. A pivotal aspect is fostering an engaged, skilled, and high-achieving team aligned with Alliance's long-term vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and motivation to the plant leadership group and broader workforce to meet strategic and operational goals.
• Act as a champion for health, safety, and wellbeing initiatives, driving ongoing improvements in safety culture and performance.
• Achieve site performance targets encompassing safety, productivity, quality, cost, and profit contribution.
• Maintain consistent adherence to food safety protocols, product quality standards, environmental policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Steer operational excellence through continuous improvement and systematic root cause analysis.
• Manage production planning, capacity use, scheduling, and forward workload projections effectively.
• Ensure plant assets, engineering, and maintenance systems underpin operational reliability and food safety assurance.
• Oversee operating budgets, capital expenditures, financial reporting, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Cultivate strong relationships with internal departments, external stakeholders, and union representatives.

Candidate Profile

• Established senior leader within complex food processing sectors.
• Proven track record leading large operational teams and successfully transforming workplace culture.
• Expertise across production, engineering, maintenance, supply chain management, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrable success enhancing health and safety through robust management systems.
• Experience managing substantial operating budgets, capital investments, and financial results.
• Comfortable navigating unionized work environments.
• Excellent skills in stakeholder engagement, communication, problem-solving, and change management.
• Tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Processing, Business, or related fields are preferred.
• Postgraduate business degrees such as an MBA are advantageous but not mandatory.

Benefits

• Senior leadership position with significant operational influence at the Levin facility.
• Opportunity to lead and develop a highly capable team fostering a high-performance, value-driven culture.
• A role that prioritizes safety, quality, operational excellence, and commercial success.
• Supportive workplace culture grounded in core values.
• Additional one week of annual leave.
• Subsidized health insurance coverage for the employee and their family.

Location Insights

Levin, a vibrant town with about 20,500 residents in the Horowhenua District, blends career opportunities with affordable living and quality lifestyle. Its proximity to Wellington and Palmerston North, combined with scenic landscapes and recreational amenities such as Lake Horowhenua, beaches, trails, forest parks, and golf courses, offers balanced living for professionals and families alike.

Additional Information

• Relocation support may be available for successful candidates moving to Levin.
• Pre-employment drug screening is mandatory as part of our health and safety commitment.
• Applicants who previously applied need not reapply.
• Applications close on 9 October 2026.

Application Instructions

Please submit your cover letter and resume to be considered for this impactful leadership opportunity.