Head of Manufacturing

Pro Select Consulting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 3,000,000 - 5,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Pro Select Consulting is seeking a Head of Manufacturing for a leading steel facility in South Africa. The role reports to the Board and drives strategic direction, safety, productivity and profitability across Melt Shop, Rebar Mill and Wire Mill.

You will lead a large, multidisciplinary workforce, implement lean and Six Sigma initiatives, and push for continuous improvement while ensuring quality and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering; postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
• Extensive leadership experience in large multidisciplinary manufacturing teams.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with P&L responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across melt shop, rebar mill, and wire mill.
• Ensure safe, efficient production meeting quality and delivery targets.
• Drive plant performance and achieve operational and financial goals.
• Develop production plans to maximise throughput and optimise capacity.
• Analyse workflows and resource allocation to improve efficiency.
• Lead and develop engineers, supervisors, technicians and operators.
• Foster accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement culture.
• Drive succession planning and performance management across the workforce.
• Champion world‑class quality and ensure product compliance with requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Strategic thinking

P&L management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Production/Industrial Engineering

Job description

Our client is seeking an exceptional Head of Manufacturing to take full responsibility for the leadership, operational performance, and strategic direction of a steel manufacturing facility. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, this executive role will oversee the full operation, driving productivity, profitability, safety, and continuous improvement across the operation.

This is an opportunity for a seasoned manufacturing leader who combines deep technical expertise with commercial acumen and the ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams in a high-performance environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the Melt Shop, Rebar Mill, and Wire Mill.
• Ensure safe, efficient, and uninterrupted production while meeting quality and delivery objectives.
• Drive overall plant performance and achieve operational and financial targets.
• Develop and execute production plans that maximise throughput and optimise plant capacity.
• Analyse workflows, equipment utilisation, and resource allocation to improve efficiency.
• Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions that enhance productivity and operational performance.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a large workforce including engineers, supervisors, technicians, and operators.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Drive succession planning, performance management, and skills development initiatives.
• Champion world‑class quality standards and ensure products consistently meet customer and industry requirements.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives to minimise defects and improve process capability.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Foster a safety‑first culture across the organisation.
• Ensure full compliance with all health, safety, and environmental legislation and standards.
• Lead proactive risk management, audits, and safety improvement initiatives.
• Oversee preventative and predictive maintenance strategies to maximise equipment reliability and plant uptime.
• Work closely with engineering teams to minimise downtime and improve asset performance.
• Drive efficient utilisation of raw materials, energy, utilities, and manpower.
• Manage plant budgets and P&L performance while implementing sustainable cost‑reduction strategies
• Champion energy efficiency and operational sustainability initiatives.
• Support business growth by identifying new market opportunities and customer segments.
• Monitor industry trends and competitor activity to inform strategic planning.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on expansion initiatives, product development, and long‑term business strategy.

Personal Attributes:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Production, or Industrial Engineering.
• Postgraduate or advanced qualifications will be advantageous.
• 20 years' + experience within steel manufacturing.
• Extensive hands‑on experience across melt shops and rolling mills.
• Proven success in senior plant leadership or executive manufacturing roles.
• Strong knowledge of steelmaking processes, manufacturing technologies, and plant operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent commercial and financial acumen with experience managing plant budgets and P&L.
• Strategic thinker with exceptional problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.
• Track record of driving operational transformation, modernisation, and continuous improvement.