_{16th June, 2026}

There are very few roles like this one...

Furphy. The name is literally in the Australian dictionary. Since 1864 this fifth-generation, family-owned business has been building things that last — from cast iron water carts used in WWI to the stainless steel tanks and pressure vessels that keep Australia’s food, dairy, brewing and infrastructure industries moving. Now they need someone exceptional to lead the Engineering Division into its next era.
Total HRM has partnered with J. Furphy & Sons to find a General Manager who brings commercial sharpness and genuine people-first values in equal measure. This isn’t a corporate box-seat. You’ll have real accountability, real autonomy, and a Managing Director who wants a genuine partner at the leadership table, not just someone to execute a plan handed down from head office.
You’ll shape the culture, own the P&L, lead strategy, and build something you can point to with pride. And you’ll do it inside a business that has survived world wars, recessions, and technological change because its people genuinely care about each other and the work they produce.

If that sounds like the kind of role you’ve been waiting for, read on and apply before someone else does.
  
About the Role
On day one, you’ll walk into a well-established division with a capable senior team and a full order book. You’ll quickly get across the people, the financials, and the strategy, and then you’ll start shaping it.

Day-to-day, expect a mix of:

• Leading your Senior Management Team across Operations, Engineering, Sales, Finance and Safety - setting direction and holding the team to account with care and clarity.
• Owning the division’s P&L - budgets, forecasting, and financial performance against targets, reported to the Managing Director and Group CFO.
• Getting out on the floor and being visible - this is a hands-on leadership culture where the GM is known by name by every employee.
• Driving continuous improvement across production, processes and customer delivery - always asking “how do we do this better?”
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships in food, dairy, brewing, infrastructure and beyond - Furphy’s reputation is built on trust, and you’ll be its guardian.

  You’ll report directly to the Managing Director and be a key member of the JFS Group General Management Team.
  
Your Core Talents

• Proven executive leadership in a complex, multi-functional operations or manufacturing environment.
• Strong financial acumen - you’ve owned a P&L and know how to drive performance against it.
• A track record of building high-performing teams and genuine, lasting cultures.
• Strategic capability: you can set a direction and bring people along with you.
• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent demonstrated executive experience - background in manufacturing or engineering is a real advantage.  

Working at J. Furphy & Sons
Furphy Engineering is based in Shepparton, in the heart of Victoria’s Goulburn Valley, the food bowl of Australia. Around 105 people work here, and most of them will tell you it’s the best workplace they’ve had. The culture is direct, collaborative and unpretentious. People look out for each other. The MD has an open door, and so does everyone else.
The business designs, engineers and manufactures high-quality stainless steel storage tanks, processing tanks and pressure vessels for multi-national and domestic clients across food, dairy, brewing, oil and gas, water and infrastructure. They’re ISO 9001 and ASSDA accredited, and their reputation for precision and reliability is second to none in the sector.
Furphy & Sons is a fifth-generation family business, and that matters. Decisions are made by people who own the outcomes. There’s no layers of bureaucracy, no committee sign-off for common sense. You’ll be trusted to lead, and you’ll be supported when it counts.
As for Shepparton itself: think affordable housing, excellent schools including La Trobe University, great sporting and outdoor facilities along the Goulburn River, a warm climate, a vibrant regional food and arts scene - and Melbourne is two hours down the highway when you need a city fix. For professionals and families looking to escape the grind of metro life without sacrificing career ambition, it’s a genuinely compelling move.
  
Inclusion
We encourage diverse candidates to apply, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from multicultural backgrounds, people with disability, veterans, young people, and people over 45 years old, even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly.
  
How to Apply
You will need full Australian working rights and a valid driver’s licence to be considered for this position. Additional assessments may apply.
Click “Apply” and upload your resume. For a copy of the position description or a confidential conversation, please contact Kim Murrells via kim@totalhrm.com.au or on 1800 868 254.
Applications close: 5pm July 14, although you may be appointed earlier.
Hot tip: Make your application stand out from the crowd by adding a written cover letter or recording a 60-second video introducing yourself and your suitability.

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