Operations manager

placeRotorua calendar_month 
About Red Stag TimberLab:
For 67 years Red Stag TimberLab is the leading supplier of mass timber engineered wood building components in New Zealand and Australia. These include Cross laminated Timber (CLT), glulam and mass LVL. Our products deliver the lowest carbon footprint construction material available in New Zealand, enabling sustainable, high-performance buildings.

We are committed to innovation, safety, and growth, and we’re looking for a dynamic leader to help us scale our Rotorua operations and liaise with our Auckland operations.

Reports to: General Manager, Red Stag TimberLab
Direct reports: 5 team leaders across:
  • Finger Jointing and planing of timber feedstock
  • Pressing CLT billets
  • CNC Machining the billets to suit project designs
  • Finishing/Carpentry of components ready to distribute
  • Engineering/Maintenance Manager – maintaining the operational performance and uptime of the plant

Team size: Manages a total staff of ~30, with ongoing growth

Industry: Mass timber / CLT manufacturing

About the Role

As the Operations Manager, you will be responsible for the safe, efficient, and scalable operations of our state-of-the-art CLT manufacturing facility. You will lead five direct reporting team leaders who oversee core stages in the operation which converts lower value timber feedstock into high-value engineered wood products for some of New Zealand’s most iconic buildings.
Recent and current mass timber projects include the 8-storey Devonport Road, Tauranga project, the Fisher & Paykel Appliances global headquarters, Living Pa at Victoria University and the 6-storey Parliament Services building beside the Beehive.

You will drive continuous improvement, productivity, quality, and cost optimisation while upholding our commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead and develop the five direct reports and a broader manufacturing team of ~30, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, employee development, and continuous improvement.
  • Oversee daily production planning, scheduling, and execution to meet customer demand, lead times, and quality standards.
  • Drive operational excellence through process optimisation, lean manufacturing principles, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Ensure adherence to health, safety, and environmental policies; champion incident prevention and corrective actions.
  • Monitor KPIs (OEE, throughput, scrap/defect rates, on-time delivery, cost per unit) and implement improvement plans.
  • Foster a culture of employee development, training, and succession planning.
Preferred Qualifications & Experience
  • Proven experience (8+ years preferred) in manufacturing leadership within timber, engineered wood, or a related manufacturing sector.
  • Demonstrated success in leading multi-disciplinary teams and managing staff.
  • Knowledge and experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Experience with CLT/mass timber processes is highly desirable.
  • Excellent change management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong technology knowledge and application.
  • Commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship.
What We Offer
  • Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
  • Opportunity to lead in a market-leading, low-carbon construction solution company.
  • Strong safety culture and commitment to wellbeing.
  • Relocation support if applicable.
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