Citrus Packhouse Operations Manager

Agricruitment; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Agricruitment in Mpumalanga is seeking an experienced Packhouse Manager to lead all packhouse operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective production while meeting quality, food safety, traceability and export market requirements.

You will oversee people leadership, labour planning, maintenance coordination, budgeting and continuous improvement, drive audits and records, and ensure health and safety compliance in a busy harvest season.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or equivalent; relevant tertiary qualification preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ management experience in fruit packing, food processing, or high-volume manufacturing; export-fruit experience advantageous.
• Working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, SIZA, Global G.A.P., traceability, food safety, and export requirements.
• Experience managing large permanent and seasonal teams, including labour planning, training, performance, and IR.
• Experience in budgeting, cost control, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office and relevant production/packhouse systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily packhouse operations from intake to dispatch.
• Plan production around harvest volumes, orders and market requirements.
• Monitor productivity, pack-out, labor, quality and waste.
• Ensure product compliance and full intake-to-dispatch traceability.
• Maintain food safety, quality and export compliance.
• Manage audits, records and corrective actions.
• Lead teams and manage staffing, training and performance.
• Ensure health, safety and labor compliance.
• Oversee maintenance, equipment, sanitation and facilities.
• Control budgets, costs, consumables and stock.
• Maintain stakeholder relationships and communicate operational issues.
• Drive continuous improvement and seasonal readiness.

Skills

Strong leadership

Planning & organisation

Decision-making

Commercial focus

Attention to detail

Communication

Hands-on leadership

Education

Grade 12 or equivalent; relevant tertiary qualification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Packhouse systems

Job description

Agricruitment in Mpumalanga is seeking an experienced Packhouse Manager to lead all packhouse operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective production while meeting quality, food safety, traceability and export market requirements.

You will oversee people leadership, labour planning, maintenance coordination, budgeting and continuous improvement, drive audits and records, and ensure health and safety compliance in a busy harvest season.