Senior Production Manager (Operations)

SUMMARY:
A leading manufacturing company in the pulp and paper sector is looking for a highly experienced Production Manager to lead operations at their plant in KwaZulu-Natal. The successful candidate will oversee end-to-end production, resource optimization, and long-term performance planning while driving continuous improvement, compliance, and team development. This is a senior management role ideal for a strategic leader with strong operational insight and deep technical knowledge of paper manufacturing processes.

Location: KwaZulu-Natal (Tugela Region)
Salary: Market-related
Reporting to: General Manager
Job Grade: Grade 5 (Senior Management Level)
Industry: Paper & Pulp / Manufacturing

POSITION INFO:

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• BSc (Engineering) or BTech (Pulp & Paper) – Required
• Management Development Programme (MDP) or equivalent – Advantageous
• Computer Literacy (MS Office)

• 8–10 years of experience in paper manufacturing or a similar heavy industrial environment
• At least 5 years in a management/leadership role
• Extensive experience in production operations management, including strategic planning, resource optimisation, and driving continuous improvement processes (e.g., TPM, PIP)
• Strong understanding of paper machine operations, coating and finishing processes, and other technical areas like pulping, bleaching, steam/power generation, and water processing systems.
• Proven track record of budget management, team leadership, and driving plant performance improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in areas of Quality, Cost, Delivery, Environment, and People (QCDEP).
• Plan and manage plant operations for optimal utilization of people, energy, and raw materials.
• Execute and continuously improve short-term (budget) and long-term (5-year) development plans across machinery, processes, and workforce.
• Lead and facilitate Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Continuous Improvement Programs (PIP).
• Monitor and reduce planned downtime hours through performance tracking and analysis.
• Support product development and respond to customer feedback.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, ISO standards, and internal policies.

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