Head of Operations

About the role

As our Head of Operations, you'll lead the distribution and warehousing operation that provide exceptional service to our Supermarket Owner/Operators and our communities supplied across the South Island.

Reporting to the General Manager Supply Chain, you'll sit on the Supply Chain Leadership Team alongside our Heads of Commercial, Performance & Optimisation and Transport.

Leading a workforce of more than 800 people across our Christchurch and Dunedin distribution centres, you'll drive operational excellence across our warehousing operations. You'll build the leadership capability, operating disciplines and continuous improvement culture needed to support the future of our Supply Chain network.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the operational performance of our distribution and warehousing network across safety, service, quality, cost and reliability.
• Build a culture of operational excellence, accountability and continuous improvement across multiple sites.
• Develop leadership capability and succession strength across a large operational workforce.
• Drive improvements in productivity, efficiency, process discipline and operational performance.
• Partner with Supply Chain leaders to shape future capability, capacity and network performance.
• Lead and support the delivery of major operational change and improvement initiatives.

About You

You'll be an experienced operational leader with a track record of building high-performing teams and delivering results through leaders, systems and clear operational disciplines. You're passionate about operational excellence, continuous improvement and creating environments where people can perform at their best.

You'll also bring:

• Significant leadership experience within supply chain, logistics, distribution, manufacturing or another large-scale operational environment.
• Experience leading leaders and large workforces across multiple sites.
• Strong operational and commercial judgement.
• A track record of driving performance improvement, transformation or operational excellence programmes.
• Experience building leadership capability and creating high-accountability cultures.
• The ability to influence across functions and balance short-term results with long-term capability.

How to apply:

If this role feels like the right next step for you, we'd love to hear from you. Click Apply to submit your application through our careers site.

Applications will close at 11:59pm on 4 October 2026 and will only be accepted via our careers site.

If you have any questions about the role, or experience any issues submitting your application, please email careers@foodstuffs-si.co.nz.

What we offer

• Our approach to flexible working is based on trusting and empowering our people to manage their time and deliver results while balancing the needs of their personal lives.
• We’re committed to equitable outcomes, and we offer additional paid parental leave, free period products and financial health checks to name a few.
• We support your wellbeing with Southern Cross health insurance for you and your family after a qualifying period, discounts at local gyms, and access to online wellbeing tools.
• We offer continuous learning and professional growth, as well as access to our extensive online training library and endless opportunities.
• We’re proud of our supportive team environment, and our positive and friendly culture that’s made fun by regular social events!
• We’re a Pride Pledge organisation, and we are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives, every day and we celebrate our diversity as strength.
• Our Hornby based office has free carparking, an in-house café.

About Us

We’re a team of 14,000 who make sure South Islanders have access to the groceries and essentials they need. Proudly 100% Kiwi-owned and operated, our co-operative has more than 180 PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square and On the Spot stores feeding the South Island.

We value being at the heart of our communities, like we’ve always been, to make the South Island a better place – for today and for many generations to come. From sunny Golden Bay all the way to Stewart Island, there’s a Foodstuffs store serving you and your whānau.

Our success is down to our people who bring their skills, experience, passion, and expertise to make Foodies an amazing and rewarding place to work. Our co-op has a wide variety of roles to offer, and endless opportunities for development.

Our Values

At Foodies, together we drive success to be our best and care for our whānau. We recognise that it takes a collective effort to achieve success, and we thrive on fostering a culture of collaboration to drive innovation and embracing challenges as a united team. We are committed to supporting our people, and to positively impact the lives of South Islanders every day.