About the position
Our client, a global leader in the chemical manufacturing sector, is seeking a highly strategic and results-driven Plant Manager to lead a critical granulation production facility. This is a pivotal leadership role with significant financial and operational accountability.
We are looking for a hands-on leader with a strong engineering foundation and a proven track record in complex process manufacturing environments.
- BSc or B.Tech degree in Chemical, Process, or Metallurgical Engineering
- Minimum of 8-10 years' experience in a process plant environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership/management role
- Proven experience in solids processing (e.g., granulation, compaction, milling, pelleting) within fertilizers, chemicals, minerals, or pharmaceuticals
- Demonstrable financial acumen with experience managing multi-million Rand operational budgets
- A deep understanding of mass and energy balances and a data-driven approach to problem-solving
- A strong track record in leading safety culture and operational excellence initiatives
You will be responsible for the end-to-end management of a large-scale granulation plant, driving world-class manufacturing excellence, safety, and efficiency. Your key focus areas will include:
- Providing leadership to a large team of 4 direct reports and ~100+ personnel (including contractors)
- Owning the manufacturing performance against key metrics including production volume, yield, and quality
- Managing a substantial operational budget (OPEX + CAPEX) and optimising the consumption of raw materials
- Driving a proactive safety culture and ensuring full compliance with OHS Act standards
- Utilising your deep process engineering knowledge to analyse mass and energy balances, identifying and implementing continuous improvement projects
- Fostering strong cross-functional relationships with supply chain, procurement, and commercial teams
Desired Skills:
- Adaptability
- Business Acumen
- Product Knowledge
- Stakeholder Management
- Team Leadership
