Site Manager

Lead a Site. Shape a Culture. Drive Performance.

This is more than a Site Manager role.

It's an opportunity to take the helm of a key Silver Fern Farms processing operation and make a lasting impact on its people, performance and future.

Based in Dargaville, you'll lead a well-established beef processing site with a dedicated workforce and experienced leadership team. You'll be empowered to drive operational excellence, strengthen capability, champion safety and build a culture where people are engaged, accountable and proud of what they achieve together.

If you're an experienced operational leader who thrives on developing people, solving complex challenges and delivering results, we'd like to hear from you.

About the Opportunity

As Site Manager, you'll have full accountability for the performance of the Dargaville site. From production, safety and quality through to financial performance, people development and long-term improvement initiatives, you'll set the direction and create the environment for success.

You'll work alongside a capable leadership team while partnering closely with corporate and operational support functions to ensure the site consistently delivers outstanding results for our customers, our farmer suppliers and our business.

This is a role for a leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational excellence, confidently leading from the front while building a strong foundation for future growth.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Leading and developing a high-performing leadership team, creating a culture built on trust, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Delivering strong operational performance across safety, quality, productivity, yield and cost management.

• Driving a world-class safety culture where our ORA principles are visible in every decision and every action.

• Ensuring compliance with all regulatory, customer and quality requirements while maintaining exceptional operational standards.

• Identifying and delivering improvement opportunities that enhance efficiency, capability and long-term site performance.

• Building strong relationships across the business, helping connect site priorities with broader organisational goals.

• Creating an environment where people feel valued, supported and motivated to perform at their best.

About You

You're an accomplished operational leader who understands that great results come through great people.

You have experience leading complex manufacturing, processing or industrial operations and know how to bring teams together around a common purpose. You combine commercial acumen with practical leadership, and you're equally comfortable discussing strategy in the boardroom or engaging with teams on the processing floor.

Most importantly, you're a leader who earns trust, builds capability and creates a culture where high performance and respect go hand in hand.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within manufacturing, processing, industrial or operational environments.

• A proven track record of leading large teams and developing future leaders.

• Strong commercial and financial capability, including budget ownership and performance management.

• Demonstrated success driving health and safety outcomes in a complex operational setting.

• Sound understanding of quality, compliance, regulatory and customer requirements.

• Experience delivering operational improvement and leading change initiatives.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, engage and inspire at all levels.

Why Silver Fern Farms?

At Silver Fern Farms, we're driven by our purpose of Creating Goodness from the Farms the World Needs.

That means producing world-class food while creating positive outcomes for our people, our farmer suppliers, our communities and the environment. It's a commitment that has earned us a reputation as one of New Zealand's leading food companies and a trusted supplier to customers around the world.

In return, you'll join a business that values leadership, supports growth and gives talented people the opportunity to make a genuine impact.

Our benefits include:

• Company Vehicle

• Subsidised health and life insurance

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

• Career progression within a nationally recognised organisation

• Discounted staff meat sales through our on-site Butcher's Block

The opportunity to lead a site that plays an important role in New Zealand's world-class food industry.

If you're ready to take ownership of a significant operation and lead a team toward its next level of success, we'd love to hear from you.

Tono Mai /To Apply: 

Applications are open now and will be reviewed as they’re received. Click “Apply” to submit your application via our Careers Website. Applications close on July 31 2026.

Silver Fern Farms welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We are proud to have a diverse and inclusive environment and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all team members and applicants. Come and create goodness together with us. You can see more about our commitments to our people and their work by visiting our Belong Here webpage: https://careers.silverfernfarms.com/nz/en/belong-here