Operations Lead Qld

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About OzHarvest:

OzHarvest is a leading food rescue organisation on a mission to ‘Nourish our Country’ by stopping good food from going to waste and delivering it to charities that help feed people in need. Through our education programs and our advocacy work, we hope to inspire others to change behaviour and help reach the national target of halving food waste by 2030.

We’re on a mission to enable safe, efficient and nationally aligned operations that turn surplus food into consistent, high‑impact food rescue so OzHarvest can deliver more meals, more sustainably, to the communities who need them most.

About the role:

We’re looking for a commercially minded, people-first operations leader to strengthen food rescue across Queensland. At its core, this role is about getting more food to more people; overseeing the trucks, runs, coordinators and driver teams that make impact happen every single day. Working closely with the QLD State Manager and National Food Operations team, you’ll lead the development of safe, consistent and high-performing logistics and operating models across multiple QLD sites. Some days you’ll be in the detail (on the warehouse floor), some days you’ll be setting the direction (in a boardroom). This is a role for someone who leads from the front, makes decisions with data, and genuinely cares about the impact behind the kilos.

• This role will be located at our Banyo warehouse, with an expectation to have a strong in-person presence with a balance of flexible/remote work.

What will you get to do?

Everyday Operations

• Oversee logistics: trucks, driver cohorts and food rescue runs that sit at the heart of OzHarvest’s mission
• Drive route efficiency, load utilisation and logistics performance to maximise kilos rescued and minimise cost-per-run.
• Get on the floor when it matters; this role is as much about being present with your team as it is about leading from above.
• Ensure fleet, warehouse and infrastructure planning supports current delivery and future growth.
• Lead a proactive safety culture across Queensland food rescue operations, overseeing site inspections, risk assessments and incident management in line with OzHarvest policy.
• Monitor operational expenditure, support budget planning and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency while protecting service quality and community impact.
• Collaborate with engagement, impact and national teams to support funding, partner reporting and storytelling that brings Queensland’s operations to life.

Drive strategy and growth

• Lead the ongoing development of Queensland’s food rescue operating model, ensuring it’s sustainable and aligned to OzHarvest’s national strategy.
• Identify opportunities to increase rescued food volumes, expand charity partner reach and improve service consistency across the state.
• Translate state and national priorities into practical operational plans with clear measures of success – with an eye to where the operation needs to be, not just where it is today.

Performance and continuous improvement

• Use data and operational reporting to identify trends and drive improvement across productivity, reliability, safety and cost efficiency.
• Lead logistics optimisation including route efficiency, load utilisation and cost-per-unit-rescued to maximise the impact of existing resources.
• Provide timely, actionable performance insights to the State Manager and National Operations team and support continuous improvement projects that simplify how we work.

Lead people and culture

• Lead and develop Food Rescue Coordinators and operational team members across Queensland, building a positive, accountable and values-led team culture across multiple sites.
• Strengthen role clarity, performance expectations and development pathways; growing capability and building the next generation of operational leaders within OzHarvest.
• Support recruitment, induction and workforce planning in partnership with the People & Culture team.

About you

• Proven experience leading teams in a complex operational environment, ideally across multiple sites or service locations.
• Demonstrated track record of improving operational performance through planning, data analysis and practical execution.
• Comfortable leading change initiatives from concept through to implementation.
• Strong understanding of safety, compliance and risk management in an operational setting.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
• A genuine commitment to OzHarvest’s mission and values.
• Current driver’s licence, valid (or willing to obtain) Police Check and Blue Card essential.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a team doing genuinely meaningful work, every single day
• Be part of a national organisation with a bold mission and warm, connected culture
• Opportunity to shape initiatives that make a real impact to local community
• Flexible working arrangements, salary packaging and additional paid leave
• Work with National Leaders to help shape how OzHarvest delivers up in QLD.
• Grow your skills in an organisation that invests in its people.

To apply:

Please complete the online application process and attach your CV along with a cover letter that includes a brief message explaining “Why you would like to work at OzHarvest and in this role” (creativity encouraged!)

***Please note that only applications with a cover letter addressing the question above will be shortlisted.

OzHarvest is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that supports diversity, inclusion and belonging. Please note: If you have a Language or Cultural special consideration, a disability or impairment or use assistive technology, please let us know in your Cover Letter when applying. You can ask a support person to help you through the application and interview process.