About the position
We’re looking for a Production Head to take the reins of a busy FMCG manufacturing plant in Pietermaritzburg.
Our growing South African brand started out making sauces and has since expanded into a delicious line-up including mayonnaise, lemon juice, peanut butter, vinegar and instant coffee. Now we need an experienced manufacturing leader who can keep the operation running smoothly, efficiently and profitably, while building a high-performing team along the way.
If strategy, people, production, budgets, quality and operational excellence are your thing, this could be your next big move!
What You’ll Be Doing
- Take overall responsibility for the Pietermaritzburg manufacturing plant, including strategy, budgets, people and performance.
- Provide strong strategic leadership and set the vision and direction for the plant.
- Lead day-to-day operations across Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, SHE and Raw Material Procurement.
- Drive production performance, ensuring the right products are made, at the right quality, at the right cost and at the right time.
- Develop and implement best-practice manufacturing and planning systems to support business growth.
- Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the plant.
- Own key financial and operational performance indicators, including production cost per kg and inventory.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and increase profitability.
- Oversee capital investment decisions relating to equipment and infrastructure.
- Ensure strong Quality Management Systems and consistently high-quality output.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, company policies and operational standards.
- Champion Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) and create a safe, compliant and reliable working environment.
- Lead and manage key functional managers and build a high-performing leadership team.
- Set clear performance goals and ensure the plant consistently delivers against its targets.
- Manage operational risks and ensure business continuity.
- Communicate strategy, performance and results across the plant and to senior leadership.
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to keep operations moving.
- Drive employee engagement, talent development and a positive, high-performance culture.
You’ll be responsible for driving results across:
- Financial: Budgets, departmental expenses and inventory
- Customers: Service levels and response times
- Quality: Waste reduction and customer complaints
- Operations: Production plan attainment
- People: Absenteeism, performance and development
- SHE: Zero-harm objectives and plant compliance
Requirements - Has strong FMCG manufacturing and plant leadership experience.
- Knows how to balance people, production, quality, cost and customer requirements.
- Is commercially minded and comfortable owning budgets and financial performance.
- Has a strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.
- Can lead multiple functions and influence stakeholders across the business.
- Is passionate about developing people and building high-performing teams.
- Is comfortable making decisions, solving problems and driving change.
- Understands the importance of quality, safety, compliance and operational discipline.
- Can think strategically while still getting stuck into the day-to-day realities of manufacturing.
Desired Skills:
- production management
- financial management
- leadership
- operational management
- hr operations
- team management
- leadership
Desired Qualification Level:
About The Employer:
