The Production Leading Hand role is generally responsible for the:

• Ordering and maintaining raw material, packaging and label stock levels
• Issuing manufacturing instructions to production staff and ensuring operators use equipment and materials in a safe manner
• Inspect and maintain equipment to ensure it is good working condition
• Label and preparation of outgoing goods - domestically and internationally

Reporting to the General Manager, this role is based at the manufacturing operations in Dandenong, Victoria. Education to year 12 minimum and certificate or diploma level in trades and/or engineering, warehousing, chemistry or equivalent is desirable with knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Good time management skills
• Good communications skills both verbally and written
• Knowledge of industrial PPE & EHS laws and requirements
• Good knowledge of processing machinery
• Computer competency
• Drivers & forklift licenses

The duties and responsibilities of the Production Leading Hand include:

• Day to day running of the Sonic Essentials processes, including planning of all production and the processing in an agreed timely manner, compliance with batch ticket instructions to ensure the products are produced within the defined limits
• Prepare, review, seek QA approval and distribute the manufacturing instructions for the production of products according to the standard operating procedures
• Supervising the production of Sonic Essentials products in accordance with the manufacturing instructions
• Review all completed manufacturing instructions to ensure they are finalised and signed
• Ensure samples are collected and forwarded to laboratory for analysis
• Creation and completion of production assemblies including raw material picks using the Inventory Management System (Cin7)
• Creation and completion of sales orders including finished goods pick using the Inventory Management System
• Ensure manufactured product is moved to Quarantine pending release from Quality department
• In conjunction with the Quality department, ensure that all production deviations are reported and investigated with corrective actions
• Prepare outgoing goods including wrapping, labelling and loading of goods into FCL’s or onto trucks
• Ensures that production facilities and equipment are cleaned as per cleaning instructions prior to Quality department inspection
• Ensure that the necessary calibrations and logs are performed and records are kept
• Ensure that the premises and equipment are maintained and records are kept
• Inspects and quarantine all incoming raw materials
• Operate all milling, blending, filling and production operations efficiently and within the safe and normal limits of the equipment design
• Maintain an in depth understanding of all manufacturing operations
• In conjunction with the Quality department, review manufacturing instructions to ensure documents are up to date and accurate.
• Perform annual stock take and report to financial department
• Ensures the factory staff are trained to operate the necessary production equipment efficiently and in a safe manner and that the equipment is maintained in a clean and fully operational state
• Ensures all staff uses the appropriate PPE and comply with the requirements for EHS
• Manage in a clean and systematic manner all stock of raw materials, packaging requirements, materials in process and finished goods and orders materials where required
• Assist Quality with internal audits when required
• Assist R&D department in new product development scale up

An Australian owned and operated business founded in 2007, Sonic Essentials specialises in the manufacture and distribution of high analysis suspension concentrates. In collaboration with universities and independent research organisations, it continues to seek out and identify enhanced and innovative ways to deliver essential crop and soil nutrients. Through focused provision of essential nutrients, Sonic Essentials aims to deliver benefits to growers and consumers. Sonic Essentials is internationally recognised and is a regarded advocate for improved crop nutrition to impact crop quality, yield and improve human health outcomes.

Sonic Essentials products are manufactured in Australia within world class facilities. The major facility is uniquely equipped with specialised milling equipment to produce ultrafine and nano-sized particles. Its products are sold into Australia, Asia, South and central America. The highly valued relationships Sonic Essentials holds with growers, distributors and researchers in Australia and around the world are the foundations the company has been built on and the reason it continues to grow.