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How to Become a Production Manager: Australian Careers in Mining

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What is a Production Manager?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Production Manager?

A Production Manager plans, runs, and controls how goods are made. They work across manufacturing, mining, and forestry. Their goal is to hit targets on time and within budget.

Each day, they set schedules and manage their team. They track output quality, costs, and labour needs. When problems come up, they fix them fast. They keep other managers up to date on production.

Safety is a core part of the job. Production Managers must meet all health and safety rules. They also oversee new equipment and find better ways to produce goods.

This is a good career for people who like fast-paced, hands-on work. There are 64,700 Production Managers in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). The role pays well and offers clear paths to senior management.

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Career snapshots For Production Managers

There are 64,700 Production Managers in Australia, with 96% working full-time (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). The typical work week is 47 hours. The median age is 47 years. Most roles are in manufacturing, mining, and construction. NSW and Victoria hold over half of all positions.

The median annual salary is around $119,000 (ABS, May 2025). Employment grew by around 700 roles in the past year (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). SEEK projects 13% job growth over the next 5 years.

What will I do?

Production Managers oversee the full production cycle in manufacturing, mining, and forestry. They hit targets, manage costs, and keep teams safe. Their daily work spans planning, problem-solving, and people management.

  • Setting and tracking production plans, strategies, and policies: keeps production in line with business goals.
  • Planning production for quality, quantity, cost, time, and labour: gets all resources working together smoothly.
  • Running plant operations and quality checks: manages upkeep schedules and keeps parts and tools on hand.
  • Tracking production output and costs: adjusts processes to cut waste and stay within budget.
  • Keeping other managers up to date on production: ensures fast, informed decisions across the business.
  • Overseeing the purchase and setup of new plant and equipment: ensures new tools are in place and ready.
  • Leading research into production methods: finds better ways to produce goods and puts them into practice.
  • Managing production records and reports: keeps clear records for analysis and compliance.
  • Meeting health and safety rules on site: ensures a safe workplace for all staff.
  • Directing staff and monitoring their results: leads the team and gives feedback to keep output high.

What skills do I need?

Production Managers need a mix of technical know-how and people skills. Strong leadership is the most important quality. They must guide teams, set clear goals, and keep everyone on track.

Data skills are also key. Production Managers check costs, output, and resource use every day. They use this data to spot problems and boost output. Good communication helps them share findings with other managers.

A solid grasp of health and safety rules is a must. So is the ability to adapt when production demands change. Skills in production management software are growing in value across the industry.

Skills/attributes

  • Leadership and team management
  • Production planning and scheduling
  • Cost control and budget management
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Knowledge of health and safety regulations
  • Quality control and assurance
  • Communication and stakeholder reporting
  • Resource allocation and workforce planning
  • Proficiency in production management software
  • Process improvement and efficiency optimisation
  • Adaptability to changing production demands
  • Equipment and maintenance oversight

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About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.