Head of Value Added Operations

About Us

JBS Pork Australia (formerly Rivalea) is Australia’s leading integrated agri‑food company, supplying high‑quality pork to domestic and export markets across a network of farming, processing and distribution sites in NSW and VIC. As part of the global JBS group, we offer diverse career paths and the chance to contribute to a sustainable, innovative protein business. Our mission is to be the best in all that we do - focused on superior products and services, trusted supplier partnerships, and a better future for our people.

About the Role

We are recruiting a Head of Value Added Operations to own the end-to-end performance of our Value Added (VA) portfolio. Based at Laverton and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will hold single point accountability for margin, service, cost, throughput and innovation across VA products. You will lead a multidisciplinary team (Operations, Procurement, PCP/Planning, R&D, Finance/Accounting) to deliver world class safety, quality, cost and service outcomes, and partner closely with the GM Processing Operations and the broader JBS VA network to benchmark performance, share innovation and create synergies.

Your key responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Own full P&L performance including revenue, margin, cost and working capital.
• Lead manufacturing performance across safety, quality, service, cost and throughput.
• Translate customer and category strategy into executable production plans.
• Drive capacity alignment through disciplined S&OP and execution cadence.
• Deliver financial transparency through forecasting, variance management and cost discipline.
• Oversee the innovation pipeline from concept through scalable launch.
• Lead procurement strategy aligned to margin, yield and operational priorities.
• Ensure regulatory, food safety and governance compliance, including internal control frameworks.
• Lead and develop a high‑performance, cross‑functional team, fostering capability, accountability and strong safety culture.
• Champion people safety and food safety excellence across all operations.
• Drive operational planning and inventory strategy to optimise capacity and minimise waste.
• Promote sustainability and environmental stewardship in line with company standards.
• Engage key stakeholders to support collaboration, alignment and continuous improvement.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in food/animal science, Business or related field.
• Senior operational experience within food processing (ideally VA), with a proven record leading complex, high-volume production.
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and strong financial acumen (budgeting, cost control, yield and margin delivery).
• Deep knowledge of people safety, food safety, QA and regulatory frameworks (including SOX internal controls).
• Advanced competence in production planning/S&OP, supply chains and operational economics.
• A leadership style that builds high performance, cross functional teams and drives continuous improvement.
• Experience in pork/meat or broader agribusiness, with strong customer centricity and commercial credibility.
• You are commercially aware, operationally credible and comfortable balancing service, cost and margin outcomes within a dynamic protein environment.

Interested? APPLY NOW! Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are interested in this position.