Abattoir Manager

Pillangó Placements; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Pillangó Placements is seeking an Abattoir Manager in Gauteng to take overall responsibility for day-to-day operations of a pork abattoir, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient production from receiving to dispatch.

The role emphasizes food safety, quality, animal welfare, people management, and equipment reliability, with a focus on meeting targets while maintaining high standards and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Oversee a workforce of 50+ employees with at least 3 years in a supervisory role.
• Hands-on abattoir operations experience, preferably pork meat processing.
• Strong knowledge of meat safety, hygiene and compliance requirements.
• Proficient in Excel and operational systems; experience with Meat Matrix or Abbasoft/Abbasurf.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of the pork abattoir from receiving through slaughter, dressing, chilling and dispatch.
• Ensure production targets, throughput and requirements are met safely and efficiently.
• Ensure compliance with meat safety, hygiene, animal welfare and OHS regulations.
• Implement and monitor food safety, hygiene and sanitation procedures.
• Manage operations staff, supervisors and resources, including planning and attendance.
• Maintain high carcass quality and support customer requirements.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement improvements to productivity and cost control.
• Coordinate maintenance of site, plant and equipment to minimise downtime.
• Ensure preventative maintenance is followed and issues are escalated promptly.
• Monitor stock and resources and provide management reports on performance.
• Work with Quality, Maintenance, HR and others to maintain compliance.

Skills

Operational leadership

Food safety

People management

Planning

Problem-solving

Production management

Maintenance awareness

Attention to detail

Tools

Excel

Meat Matrix

Abbasoft/Abbasurf

Job description

The Abattoir Manager will take overall responsibility for the effective day-to-day management of the abattoir, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient operations while maintaining high standards of food safety, product quality, animal welfare, people management and equipment reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage the daily operations of the pork abattoir, from livestock receiving through slaughter, dressing, chilling and carcass dispatch.
• Ensure that production targets, throughput and operational requirements are achieved safely and efficiently.
• Ensure compliance with applicable meat safety, food safety, hygiene, animal welfare, occupational health and safety, and other regulatory requirements.
• Implement, maintain and monitor food safety, hygiene and sanitation procedures throughout the abattoir.
• Manage operational staff, supervisors and resources effectively, including workforce planning, discipline, attendance and performance.
• Maintain high standards of carcass quality and ensure that operational processes support customer and quality requirements.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement practical improvements to productivity, yield, workflow and cost control.
• Coordinate and oversee general maintenance of the site, plant and equipment to minimise breakdowns and operational downtime.
• Ensure preventative maintenance requirements are followed and that maintenance issues are escalated and resolved promptly.
• Monitor stock, consumables and other operational resources required for the effective running of the abattoir.
• Maintain accurate operational records and provide management reporting on production, staffing, food safety, maintenance and operational performance.
• Work closely with Quality, Maintenance, HR and other relevant departments to ensure the abattoir operates effectively and remains compliant.

Minimum Requirements

• Proven management experience overseeing a workforce of more than 50 employees for at least 3 years.
• Essential hands-on experience in abattoir operations, preferably within a pork abattoir or pork meat processing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety, hygiene and compliance requirements within a meat processing environment.
• Good understanding of slaughter-floor operations, production flow and carcass handling.
• Computer literate, with the ability to work confidently in Microsoft Excel and other operational systems.
• Experience working with Meat Matrix and/or Abbasoft/Abbasurf systems is required.
• Practical understanding of site and equipment maintenance within a production or abattoir environment.
• Strong people-management, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced operational environment and take accountability for the overall performance of the abattoir.

Key Competencies

• Operational leadership
• Food safety and compliance focus
• People management
• Planning and organisation
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Production and efficiency management
• Maintenance awareness
• Attention to detail and accountability

Salary Package

The salary is open for discussion and will be market related in line with your qualifications, skills and experience.