About the position
Join a leading Southern African manufacturer as Head of Tooling & Design, where you’ll take the reins of a strategic department central to product quality, innovation, and operational excellence. This senior leadership role oversees the full spectrum of tooling and design - developing, maintaining, and optimising tools, dies, jigs, and fixtures for high-volume production environments.
Looking for a dynamic leader with deep technical knowledge, CAD/CAM expertise, and a sharp eye for innovation and efficiency.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Qualified Tool, Jig & Die Maker with 10+ years of experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role
- Advanced proficiency in CAD/CAM systems (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, Siemens NX)
- Expertise in die-making, mold design, CNC machining, and optimal materials selection
- Proven leadership in high-volume environments - automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, or heavy engineering preferred
- Strong project management skills and the ability to navigate cross-functional collaboration
- Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt) certification is an added advantage
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute tooling and design strategies aligned with business goals
- Lead a team in designing, testing, and validating high-precision tools, dies, and molds
- Oversee tooling maintenance, repair, and optimization to ensure peak performance
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Production, R&D, Quality) to support new product launches and process improvements
- Manage budgets, cost-saving initiatives, and supplier relationships for tooling procurement
- Ensure compliance with industry standards (ISO, Lean, Six Sigma) and safety regulations
Desired Skills:
- Continuous Improvement
- Leadership
- People Development
- Project Management
- Quality Assurance
- Six Sigma
- Stakeholder Management
