General Manager – Timber Manufacturing

SydSen Recruit; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 949,000 - 1,172,000; Full time

Job summary

SydSen Recruit seeks an experienced General Manager – Timber Manufacturing to take overall responsibility for a large-scale operation spanning the MachineShop, Joinery Department and Paint Line. The role demands hands-on senior leadership with extensive timber manufacturing and shopfitting experience.

You will drive production planning, scheduling, quality control and continuous improvement while managing a sizeable workforce in a on-site setting.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in senior timber manufacturing leadership.
• Experience in joinery, cabinetry, furniture or shopfitting manufacturing.
• Ability to interpret detailed technical drawings.
• Strong production planning, scheduling and quality-control experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day timber manufacturing operations across multiple departments.
• Lead ~80 production employees and ensure safety and productivity targets.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Production Planning and Drawing Office.
• Drive continuous improvement and reduce defects and waste.

Skills

CNC machinery

Machine-shop operations

Spray finishing

Leadership

Production planning

Tools

Shop floor management

Job description

General Manager – Timber Manufacturing

We are looking for an experienced General Manager – Timber Manufacturing to take overall responsibility for a large-scale production operation across the MachineShop, Joinery Department and Paint Line.

This is a hands‑on senior leadership position suited to someone with extensive experience in timber manufacturing, shopfitting, cabinetry, furniture production or retail fixture manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day timber manufacturing operations
• Lead approximately 80 production employees
• Oversee production planning, scheduling and resource allocation
• Ensure production targets, deadlines and quality standards are achieved
• Manage workflow across machining, joinery and finishing
• Identify and resolve production bottlenecks
• Coordinate with Engineering, Production Planning, Drawing Office and Project Management
• Manage raw material availability
• Drive performance management, training and development
• Implement strong quality‑control processes
• Reduce defects, rework and material waste
• Interpret detailed technical and manufacturing drawings
• Ensure Occupational Health & Safety compliance
• Drive productivity and continuous improvement initiatives

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience
• Senior management experience in timber, joinery, cabinetry, furniture or shopfitting manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of cabinet making, joinery, CNC machinery and machine-shop operations
• Good knowledge of spray finishing / paint‑line operations
• Experience working with board products, laminates, veneers, solid surfaces and specialist finishes
• Ability to interpret detailed technical drawings
• Strong production planning, scheduling and quality‑control experience
• Hands‑on leadership style and experience managing sizeable production teams

Industry: Timber / Shopfitting / Fixtures

Employment Type: Permanent | On-site

Salary: R85,000 – R105,000 CTC per month