Cutting Room Manager (Textile & Clothing)

The Recruitment Guy (Pty) Ltd; Newcastle; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A textile manufacturer in Newcastle is seeking a hands-on Cutting Room Manager to oversee operations in their high-volume production cutting room. Responsibilities include managing the cutting team, ensuring optimal fabric utilisation, and monitoring key performance indicators. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in a similar supervisory role and a strong knowledge of cutting systems and garment behavior. A competitive salary of R50,000 – R70,000 per month is offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in a supervisory or management role within textile or clothing manufacturing.
• Experience with high-volume woven and knit garments is essential.
• Strong working knowledge of garment construction and production workflow.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all cutting room operations including planning and work allocation.
• Manage a team of cutting staff, ensuring productivity and quality.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles to improve processes.

Skills

Team leadership

Cutting room planning

Fabric behaviour knowledge

Excellent organisational skills

People management

Education

Matric (Grade 12)

Relevant textile/garment qualification

Tools

Gerber cutting systems

Lectra cutting systems

Auto-CAD

Job description

Cutting Room Manager (Textile & Clothing) – Newcastle.

A leading and long-established textile and garment manufacturer, with a high-volume production operation in the Newcastle / Amajuba region, is seeking a hands-on and process-driven Cutting Room Manager to join their senior operations team.

The role is key to ensuring the cutting room functions at optimal efficiency, driving output, accuracy, and team performance in line with fast-paced production targets.

Salary: R50 000 – R70 000 per month.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee all cutting room operations, including planning, marker making, spreading, cutting, bundling, and work allocation.
• Ensure efficient fabric utilisation and minimal wastage through strategic marker planning and control.
• Manage a team of cutting staff and assistants, ensuring consistent productivity, quality, and discipline.
• Monitor and maintain performance against cutting room KPIs (output, efficiency, error rate, and timelines).
• Coordinate closely with the production, pattern, and planning departments to align cutting schedules with production deadlines.
• Oversee maintenance and operation of cutting equipment, including Gerber/lectra/auto cutters, and ensure all machines run optimally.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles and contribute to continuous improvement in processes.
• Ensure fabric inspections, labelling, and job cards are completed accurately and on time.
• Enforce all health & safety protocols within the cutting room environment.
• Manage timekeeping, leave planning, and performance reviews for cutting staff.

Requirements:

• Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in a supervisory or management role within a textile or clothing manufacturing cutting room.
• Matric (Grade 12) + Relevant textile/garment qualification advantageous.
• Experience with high-volume woven and knit garments is essential.
• Proficient with cutting room planning, marker-making, and team leadership.
• Experience with Gerber / Lectra / Auto-CAD cutting systems (advantageous).
• Strong working knowledge of fabric behaviour, garment construction, and production workflow.
• Excellent people management, planning, and organisational skills.
• Comfortable managing multi-shift teams in a high-output environment.
• Must be able to relocate or commute to the Newcastle / Amajuba region.