GENERAL MANAGER – OPERATIONS

Confidential Company; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance-based bonus

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement plan

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Confidential Company is seeking a General Manager to provide executive leadership across manufacturing and operational functions in Cape Town. The role demands expertise in driving operational performance, managing workforce leadership, and ensuring manufacturing excellence.

The ideal candidate will have over 20 years of experience in large-scale manufacturing, with a strong focus on operational transformation and productivity improvement. Competitive salary and benefits are offered, alongside professional development support.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20 years of experience in large-scale manufacturing.
• At least 10 years in senior executive leadership roles.
• Experience in cable manufacturing, metals, or continuous process industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement operational strategy across manufacturing functions.
• Ensure safe and efficient operations to meet production targets.
• Lead daily operations and monitor performance through KPIs.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Supply Chain Management

Financial Management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

MBA or Master's in Business Administration

Tools

ERP Systems (Oracle, SAP)

Job description

General Manager – Operations

Provides executive leadership and strategic direction across all manufacturing and operational functions. Responsible for operational performance, manufacturing excellence, financial results, workforce leadership, safety, quality, customer satisfaction, and long-term business growth. Leading a large‑scale manufacturing operation by developing and executing operational strategies that maximize productivity, improve profitability, optimize assets, and enhance customer service while maintaining world‑class standards in quality, safety, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership: Develop and implement operational strategy, provide executive leadership across manufacturing functions, establish annual objectives, drive culture of operational excellence, align priorities with strategy, lead transformation initiatives, build high‑performing leadership team, represent company.
• Manufacturing Operations: Ensure safe, efficient, profitable operation; lead daily operations to achieve production targets; maximize plant productivity while maintaining quality standards; eliminate bottlenecks; monitor OEE; drive lean initiatives; improve manufacturing efficiency; support expansion; monitor performance via KPIs; ensure uninterrupted production.
• Production Excellence: Ensure processes meet specifications; optimize scheduling and allocation; improve flexibility; reduce losses; standardize processes; monitor performance; implement corrective actions; maintain quality priority.
• Engineering & Maintenance Leadership: Provide strategic leadership; develop asset management strategies; ensure equipment availability; support preventive, predictive, and reliability‑centered maintenance; drive TPM; manage capital replacement; support automation; ensure projects safe, on schedule, within budget.
• Supply Chain, Procurement & Logistics: Ensure integrated efficient supply chain; oversee strategy; procure raw materials; lead sourcing; manage inventory and warehouse; monitor logistics; build supplier relationships; comply with policies; drive continuous improvement.
• Quality & Operational Excellence: Ensure products meet expectations; foster continuous improvement; promote quality culture; ensure compliance with specifications & standards; support QMS; lead improvements; monitor quality performance and feedback; drive corrective action; promote Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and OEM.

Success Measures

• Production Target Achievement, OEE, Manufacturing Cost per Unit, On‑Time Delivery, Production Efficiency, Material Yield Improvement, Scrap Reduction
• Equipment Availability, MTBF, MTTR, Preventive Maintenance Compliance, Reduction in Unplanned Downtime, Engineering Project Delivery
• Supplier On‑Time Delivery, Procurement Cost Savings, Inventory Accuracy, Inventory Turnover, Logistics Performance, Stock Availability
• Customer Satisfaction, Internal Rejection Rate, Customer Complaints, Cost of Poor Quality, First Pass Yield, Audit Compliance

Candidate Profile

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing or Metallurgical Engineering, or related discipline. MBA or Master’s in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering Management preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 20 years of progressive experience in large‑scale manufacturing or heavy industrial environments, at least 10 years in senior executive leadership; proven in managing multi‑functional manufacturing operations; experience in cable manufacturing, aluminium, copper, metals, mining, smelters, or other continuous process industries preferred; strong leadership of multicultural teams; success in operational transformation, productivity improvement, and business growth.

Core Competencies

• Leadership Competencies: Strategic Leadership, Business Acumen, Change Management, Decision Making, Financial Management, Stakeholder Management, People Development, Risk Management, Coaching & Mentoring, Executive Communication.
• Technical Competencies: Manufacturing Operations, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, TQM, Production Planning, Supply Chain Management, Asset Reliability, Operational Excellence, ERP Systems (Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or equivalent), Budget & Cost Management.
• Key Performance Indicators: Plant Productivity, OEE, Production Target Achievement, Manufacturing Cost per Unit, EBITDA, On‑Time Delivery, Customer Satisfaction, Equipment Availability, Inventory Accuracy, Procurement Cost Savings, Employee Engagement, Safety Performance (LTIFR/TRIR), Capital Project Delivery, ERP Adoption, Continuous Improvement Savings.

Remuneration & Benefits

Competitive base salary, performance‑based bonus, long‑term incentive plan, health and wellness benefits, retirement plan, professional development support, relocation assistance (if applicable).

Equal Opportunity Employment

This position is open to qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.