Production Manager (Cheese)

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Our client is seeking an experienced and dynamic Cheese Production Manager to lead the full cheese manufacturing and packaging operations. This role is responsible for ensuring consistent production output, product quality, food safety compliance and operational performance across the cheese production value chain. The successful candidate will provide strong technical and people leadership ensuring that manufacturing targets, efficiency standards and customer expectations are consistently met.

Purpose of the Job

To manage and oversee all aspects of cheese production and packaging, ensuring products are manufactured to the highest quality and safety standards, production targets are met efficiently and all operational, quality, and compliance documentation is accurately completed and maintained to support traceability, audits and regulatory requirements.

Education, experience and competencies required

• Grade 12 / Matric / Equivalent.
• Degree/Diploma in Food Technology, Dairy Science, Production Management, or related field
• Minimum 7–10 years’ experience in cheese production (hard, processed or mozzarella), with at least 5 years at a management level
• Strong working knowledge of FSSC 22000 and high-care manufacturing environments
• Proven track record in managing production budgets, KPIs and large operational teams
• Strong leadership, decision-making and problem-solving capability
• Hands-on, decisive and results-oriented leadership style
• Excellent analytical, planning and operational problem-solving capability
• Ability to lead teams under pressure and deliver results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Attention to detail, disciplined execution and focus on quality compliance

Key Performance Areas

Operational Management

• Oversee all cheese production and packaging processes ensuring consistent output and adherence to production schedules
• Plan and manage daily, weekly and monthly production schedules in line with business forecasts and customer demand
• Optimise equipment utilisation and minimise downtime through proactive maintenance coordination with Engineering
• Implement best-practice lean manufacturing principles to improve throughput, efficiency and waste reduction

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with FSSC 22000 (V6), HACCP, GMP and all relevant regulatory requirements
• Lead internal and external audits ensuring 100% audit readiness
• Implement, monitor and maintain critical control points (CCPs), hygiene standards, allergen controls and product traceability
• Ensure finished products consistently meet quality specifications for texture, flavour, moisture and packaging standards

Cost & Performance Management

• Track and manage production KPIs including yield, throughput, wastage, labour productivity, downtime and cost per unit
• Analyse production data to identify trends, issues and opportunities for continuous improvement
• Implement corrective actions to address inefficiencies, quality deviations or non-compliance incidents

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor and develop production supervisors, team leaders, and frontline staff
• Set clear performance objectives and accountability for all production areas
• Foster a culture of safety, discipline, high performance, and continuous improvement
• Ensure adequate succession planning and skills development within the department

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

• Work closely with Quality, Supply Chain, Technical and SHE teams to ensure seamless operations
• Participate in customer visits, technical reviews, and ensure customer requirements are fully understood and implemented
• Act as primary point of escalation for any production or quality issues impacting key customers

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Drive operational excellence initiatives to improve process reliability, reduce waste, and enhance product quality
• Evaluate new technologies, equipment, and process innovations that could improve efficiency or product consistency
• Lead root cause analysis investigations for recurring production issues