SUMMARY:
Vacancy exists in Louis Trichardt for a hands-on Factory Manager who has an entrepreneurial mindset. This seasoned candidate will have experience producing products in the food manufacturing sector, meeting quality standards and developing staff who are accountable from production through to despatch. This is a unionised environment so CCMA/IR experience is critical. Working knowledge of ERP systems is essential. Should you have any queries call Antoinette or Kaylin on 0861 FENRIS (336747).
POSITION INFO:
Responsibilities:
Manage staff across production, quality, stores and dispatch.
Accountable for the entire site.
People Management: Accountability across the full site and factory team, including hiring, training, and performance management. Developing supervisors and foremen.
Production Execution: Delivery of volume, yield, and quality targets.
Operational Leadership: Direct leadership of foremen, QCs, mixers, stock controllers, packers, drivers, and dispatch team.
Scheduling: Factory-level production scheduling (including workforce planning) against assigned workload.
Site Discipline: Shift discipline, daily meetings, SOP enforcement, and bin tracking.
Compliance: Site and factory-level safety, hygiene, and food safety execution.
Daily Dispatch: Design, train, and supervise the daily 5am dispatch operation. Foremen run it; you set the standard, back them up, and handle escalations when they arise. The same with the fleet returning in the evening.
Customer Operations: Serve as the site's primary operations contact for key customers, handling scheduling, delivery coordination, and immediate issue resolution.
Maintenance Coordination: Site and factory-level maintenance coordination (raising issues, escalating, and coordinating with the Engineering & Maintenance Lead).
Reporting: Weekly scorecard delivery and participation in our weekly operating rhythm.
Administration: Daily production and stock data captured accurately in ERPNext. Timesheet approval for HR payroll processing. Leave approval for the site team. Records maintained for audits and scorecard reporting. Shift and staff planning and scheduling.
Requirements:
Minimum 5 years management experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, or packaging, in a role where you personally led a production team on the floor.
Proficient in ERP systems
Adaptable to digitisation - working smarter
Proven IR experience and improving a team's performance
Minimum Matric Certificate (Grade 12); relevant technical, engineering, or production qualifications strongly advantageous
Valid drivers license
