Manufacturing Lead

About ETEL

ETEL Ltd is New Zealand’s leading manufacturer of distribution transformers, known for delivering excellence and living our values every day. Our vision of connecting people to power underpins our work and our culture, where people are valued, supported, and encouraged to grow.

We are seeking experienced and motivated Manufacturing Leads to join our Production team.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing, this role is responsible for leading a defined production area and delivering consistent performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people. You will play a key role in translating operational plans into disciplined execution, while building team capability and driving sustained performance outcomes.

This is a hands-on leadership role with a strong presence on the shop floor, focused on driving operational stability, resolving performance challenges, and enabling continuous improvement.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Leading day-to-day manufacturing operations within your area
• Driving safe, high-quality, and efficient production outcomes
• Building team capability through coaching, training, and performance management
• Owning and improving performance across key operational measures
• Identifying and resolving issues impacting production performance
• Supporting and embedding continuous improvement initiatives
• Working cross-functionally to ensure smooth and effective operations

About You

You are a confident and practical leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You bring a strong focus on people, performance, and continuous improvement, with the ability to lead from the front and build high-performing teams.

You will ideally bring:

• Leadership experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Experience applying Lean principles or leading improvement initiatives
• Strong understanding of production operations and workflow
• A commitment to safety, quality, and operational discipline
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage performance, and develop capability
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to changing priorities

Preferred Skills & Experience

• A trade qualification in electrical manufacturing, or a strong technical background in heavy industrial or sheet metal manufacturing
• Exposure to Lean methodologies (e.g. Lean Six Sigma) and modern manufacturing practices
• Experience in medium to high-volume production environments
• Experience working in regulated or safety-critical environments

Why Join ETEL?

• Be part of a growing organisation focused on operational excellence
• Opportunity to shape team performance and capability
• Work in a collaborative and supportive environment
• Contribute to meaningful work supporting critical infrastructure

How to Apply

If you are looking for your next leadership opportunity and want to make a real impact on production performance and team capability, we’d love to hear from you.