General Manager

Edge Executives; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm in South Africa is seeking a General Manager for Hygiene/Tissue Products. This role involves leading the full manufacturing value-chain to meet strategic targets, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and driving operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of senior management experience in manufacturing, ideally in FMCG hygiene or tissue production. A tertiary qualification in Engineering is required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years' manufacturing plant experience in a senior management role.
• Experience in FMCG hygiene, tissue, or paper-converting manufacturing preferred.
• Proven track record of leading operational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the full manufacturing value-chain for hygiene/tissue products.
• Ensure compliant operations in line with SHEQ standards.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence programmes.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Analytical skills

Leadership skills

Problem-solving

Education

BSc/BEng/BTech in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Job description

General Manager – Manufacturing (Hygiene / Tissue Products)

Location: Gauteng – Manufacturing Site

Permanent, Full Time

Role Purpose

Lead and direct the full manufacturing value-chain for hygiene / tissue products (from pulp / rolls through to finished product conversion and packaging) to deliver on safety, quality, cost, delivery and people targets. Develop a high-performance culture, drive continuous improvement, and ensure the business meets its strategic and operational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure safe, compliant operations in line with SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality) standards.
• Lead a multidisciplinary management team (production, engineering, maintenance, quality, logistics, HR) to deliver business plan objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence programmes (lean manufacturing, TPM, OEE improvements, waste / yield optimisation).
• Develop and implement operating strategies to minimise cost, maximise throughput and improve product quality.
• Forecast and plan operational requirements including technology, equipment, manpower, infrastructure.
• Maintain a constructive industrial relations climate; ensure workforce capability development and succession planning.
• Establish and monitor key operational metrics : schedule adherence, OEE, waste, rejects, material usage variance, cost variances.
• Lead capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) planning for the site, ensure execution of projects on time and budget.
• Champion asset management strategy – ensure production & maintenance tasks align with asset care plans.
• Collaborate with supply chain, procurement and commercial teams to align manufacturing capacity with market demand and customer requirements.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification (BSc, BEng, BTech or equivalent) in Mechanical / Electrical Engineering, Pulp & Paper Technology, Industrial Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 8-10 years’ manufacturing plant experience plus at least 8-10 years in a senior management role in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in FMCG hygiene, tissue or paper-converting manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of leading operational transformation : OEE improvement, waste reduction, schedule adherence, cost control.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma or similar methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to build and lead teams, drive culture change and develop talent.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, CAPEX projects, and delivering against key financial and operational targets.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with hands-on operational DNA.
• Results oriented, resilient under pressure, and comfortable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Collaborative leader with strong influence across functional teams.
• Passionate about safety, quality, continuous improvement and people development.
• Strong commercial awareness and commitment to deliver operational excellence aligned with business strategy.