Packing Supervisor
Location: Te Puke, Bay of Plenty
Department: Manufacturing – Packing
Work Set-up: Onsite
Employment Type: Full-time, Shift-Based
Lead the Team. Solve Technical Problems. Keep Production Moving.
Addiction Pet Foods is looking for a hands-on and technically capable Packing Technical Supervisor to oversee our packing operations at our manufacturing facility in Te Puke.
This is not a desk-based supervisory role. You will work closely with the packing team on the production floor, ensuring that packing lines operate efficiently, equipment issues are resolved quickly, and every finished product meets our quality and food safety standards.
You will lead Packing Operators and Production Technicians while serving as the primary technical resource for packing machinery. The role requires strong leadership, practical mechanical and electrical troubleshooting skills, and experience working with automated packaging equipment in a manufacturing environment.
Your Key Responsibilities:
Production Efficiency and Quality:
- Oversee daily packing operations to achieve production targets safely and efficiently.
- Monitor line performance, downtime, waste, rework, and output trends.
- Conduct regular quality checks, including pack weight, sealing, labelling, and product presentation.
- Ensure Standard Operating Procedures are consistently followed.
- Respond quickly to production deviations and minimise disruption to operations.
- Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
Technical Troubleshooting and Equipment Reliability:
- Act as the primary technical lead for mechanical and electrical faults on packing equipment.
- Diagnose and resolve equipment issues to minimise production downtime.
- Lead Root Cause Analysis for recurring breakdowns, defects, and material losses.
- Develop and monitor Corrective and Preventive Actions.
- Adjust and calibrate machine controls for different packaging formats.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance activities with the Maintenance and Engineering team.
- Monitor equipment condition and escalate risks before they result in breakdowns.
- Research and recommend machinery improvements, upgrades, or replacements.
- Implement Basic Equipment Care practices, including cleaning, inspection, lubrication, and tightening.
- Build operator ownership through autonomous maintenance practices.
Materials and Inventory Management:
- Monitor packaging material requirements, including film, pre-made bags, labels, and pallets.
- Ensure sufficient materials are available to support uninterrupted production.
- Work with Supply Chain and Procurement to address shortages or delivery discrepancies.
- Introduce controls that reduce packaging waste and improve material handling.
Safety, Quality, and Compliance:
- Enforce workplace health and safety requirements and correct PPE use.
- Conduct machinery safety inspections and identify potential hazards.
- Support compliance with HACCP, GMP, FDA, and New Zealand Risk Management Programme requirements.
- Investigate workplace incidents and implement corrective technical actions.
- Maintain accurate production, maintenance, quality, and safety documentation.
- Ensure the packing area remains audit-ready and meets hygiene standards.
Team Leadership and Development:
- Supervise, coach, and support Packing Operators and Production Technicians.
- Manage shifts, breaks, staffing requirements, and production handovers.
- Participate in recruiting technically capable and culturally aligned team members.
- Conduct performance reviews and identify individual development needs.
- Train new employees in safe equipment operation, troubleshooting, and autonomous maintenance.
- Develop the team’s technical capability and encourage a high-performance culture.
About You
You are a practical and visible leader who is comfortable working directly with machinery and production employees. You remain calm during breakdowns, investigate problems thoroughly, and take ownership of actions until issues are resolved.
You will ideally bring:
- A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering, Food Science, or a related discipline.
- Three to five years of supervisory experience in manufacturing.
- Experience with automated packaging machinery or food processing operations.
- Strong mechanical and electrical fault-finding capability.
- Experience leading Root Cause Analysis, CAPA, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement activities.
- The ability to coach operators and build technical capability within a production team.
- Strong planning, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- A practical understanding of food safety, hygiene, quality, and workplace safety requirements.
Preferred Training and Certifications:
The following qualifications would be highly regarded:
- HACCP or another recognised food safety certification.
- Relevant health and safety training.
- Mechanical Trade Certificate or equivalent technical diploma.
- Total Productive Maintenance or Autonomous Maintenance certification.
- Lockout-Tagout certification.
- Pneumatics and hydraulics troubleshooting certification.
Work Schedule
This position supports a multi-shift manufacturing operation. Applicants must be willing and able to work across the following schedules when required:
- 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
- 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Why Join Us?
This role offers the opportunity to take genuine ownership of packing performance, equipment reliability, and team capability within a growing food manufacturing business. You will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, and Product and Process Development teams to improve how our products are packed and delivered.
If you are a hands-on technical leader who enjoys solving machinery problems, developing people, and improving production performance, we would like to hear from you.
Apply now and help us build a safer, stronger, and more reliable packing operation.