General Manager – Converting | Pretoria West | Permanent

Edge Executive Search Group; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Edge Executive Search Group is presenting a General Manager role for a high-volume tissue and paper manufacturing enterprise in Pretoria West. The candidate will provide strategic leadership across operations, align objectives with corporate goals, and drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, and productivity.

The role requires a strong track record in manufacturing operations leadership, strategic planning, and budget management, with familiarity in Six Sigma and IR.

Qualifications

• Matric is required.
• 5+ years of manufacturing operations leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience in Industrial Relations.
• Strong background in General Management, Strategic Planning and Budget Management.
• Asset Management and Risk Management expertise.
• Familiarity with Six Sigma methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide visible, professional leadership across the Pretoria West manufacturing facility.
• Establish and communicate strategic and operational objectives aligned with corporate goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary leadership team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Promote and embed company values throughout the operation.
• Ensure effective succession planning and talent development.
• Drive operational excellence through governance, decision-making and disciplined execution.
• Oversee the tissue manufacturing value chain, meeting production schedules and quality standards.
• Monitor operational performance and implement improvement initiatives.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for deviations.
• Manage operational expenditure within budgets, controlling costs and waste.
• Drive cost reduction and value improvement projects.
• Develop and manage annual operational and maintenance budgets.
• Build organizational capability through talent and skills development programs.
• Support asset management strategies to enhance equipment reliability.
• Lead safety initiatives and promote a safety-first culture.
• Oversee legal, environmental, and governance compliance.
• Maintain focus on KPIs: safety, quality, schedule adherence, costs, productivity.

Skills

Leadership

Industrial relations

General management

Strategic planning

Budget management

Asset management

Risk management

Six Sigma

Education

Grade 12 (Matric)

Job description

Step into a pivotal leadership role where your influence drives operational excellence and shapes the future of a high-volume tissue and paper manufacturing enterprise. Our client, an established South African organisation renowned for safety, quality, and continuous improvement, is seeking a dynamic General Manager to lead their Pretoria West operations. This is a rare opportunity for a strategic and results-oriented executive to make a tangible impact within a thriving sector.

Duties:

• Provide visible, professional leadership across the Pretoria West manufacturing facility.
• Establish and communicate strategic and operational objectives aligned with corporate goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary leadership team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Promote and embed company values throughout the operation.
• Ensure effective succession planning and talent development.
• Drive operational excellence through governance, decision-making, and disciplined execution.
• Oversee the entire tissue manufacturing value chain, ensuring production schedules and quality standards are met.
• Monitor operational performance and implement improvement initiatives.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for operational deviations.
• Manage operational expenditure within approved budgets, controlling costs and waste.
• Drive cost reduction and value improvement projects.
• Develop and manage annual operational and maintenance budgets.
• Build organizational capability through talent and skills development programs.
• Support asset management strategies to enhance equipment reliability and performance.
• Lead safety initiatives, ensuring compliance with all SHEQ standards and promoting a safety-first culture.
• Oversee legal, environmental, and corporate governance compliance.
• Maintain a focus on core KPIs such as safety, quality, schedule adherence, costs, and productivity.

Requirements:

• Grade 12 (Matric)
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in manufacturing operations leadership
• Demonstrated experience in Industrial Relations
• Strong background in General Management, Strategic Planning, and Budget Management
• Asset Management and Risk Management expertise
• Familiarity with Six Sigma methodologies

Nice to Have:

• Experience within the FMCG sector

What We'll Give You:

• An engaging leadership environment within a well-established organisation
• The opportunity to influence operational success at a strategic level
• A competitive salary package, with details available upon application