Head of Production - SVP

Aspen Pharma Group; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Gqeberha is seeking a Production Manager to oversee end-to-end production operations. Key responsibilities include managing site operations, ensuring quality production, and leading teams through change. Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years in manufacturing, preferably in pharmaceuticals, and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering. This role offers an opportunity to drive strategic initiatives and ensure compliance with GMP standards.

Qualifications

• 10 years’ related experience with strong manufacturing experience.
• Experience managing a strategic production site in a pharmaceutical environment.
• Management of projects in an international context.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the site in line with company policies.
• Ensure timely supply of quality products to customers.
• Ensure that production documentation complies with GMP and legislation.
• Lead teams through change and restructuring.

Skills

Pharmaceutical manufacturing insight

Quality and operations understanding

People management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Overview

Oversee and take full accountability for end‑to‑end production operations, ensuring the achievement of production targets, OTIF delivery within cost budgets, and effective leadership across Production, QC, Production Planning, and Maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Manage, organise, control and supervise all aspects of the site in line with company policies and procedures.
• Ensure the timely supply of quality products to customers.
• Ensure that proper maintenance is carried out on equipment, utilities and manufacturing areas.
• Overall accountability for SHE performance, including safety culture, incident prevention, legal compliance, and visible safety leadership.
• Drive safe systems of work and embed safety as a core production discipline.
• Ensure that production documentation is GMP and legislation‑compliant, on time and reviewed prior to approval.
• Implement/support risk‑based approaches for manufacturing operations and equipment.
• Oversee the development and implementation of, and adherence to, SOPs in the department and ensure GMP compliance.
• Ensure the areas of the department meet hygiene and cleanliness standards and that equipment/ process validations are performed.
• Ensure that products are produced and stored according to appropriate documentation to obtain required quality.
• Support QA/QC in quality investigations and represent the department during inspections and audits, as and when required.
• Overall accountability for inspection readiness across all production areas.
• Act as a key site representative during SAHPRA, FDA, and customer inspections.
• Ensure timely closure and sustainability of production‑related CAPAs.
• Full ownership of operational KPIs including OPP, cost, yield, scrap, labour efficiency, and throughput.
• Drive regular performance reviews, loss analysis, and corrective actions.
• Take accountability for recovery plans where performance deviates from budget or operational plans; explore competitor activity, market trends and new initiatives.
• Motivate, train and develop department heads and their direct reports.
• Agree business plans and performance targets with department managers and monitor these, taking necessary corrective actions.
• Build sustainable production teams through talent development, succession planning, and capability uplift.
• Manage industrial relations risks in collaboration with HR.
• Drive employee engagement, attendance, and accountability within production teams.
• Manage, organise, control and supervise the process of approved capital expenditure, ensuring financial, conceptual and phasing objectives are achieved in line with company policy.
• Participate in the development and lead the implementation of the strategic vision and direction for business‑critical functions across SA, as well as all related plans, policies and procedures.
• Perform financial and human resources functions to ensure optimal management of the function and reporting units and leaders.
• Manage collaboration and coordination between reporting units.
• Maintain/support positive customer engagements and problem resolution.
• Manage the site within agreed budgets.
• Leverage production data, MES, KPIs, and dashboards to drive data‑led decision‑making.
• Support digital initiatives that improve scheduling accuracy, OEE, and operational visibility.
• Lead teams through change, restructuring, and operating model transitions.
• Embed new ways of working, governance structures, and accountability post‑change.
• Understand commercial priorities and translate them into executable production plans.
• Manage customer commitments, supply continuity, and escalation where delivery is at risk.

Requirements

• 10 years’ related experience with strong manufacturing experience.
• Managing a strategic production site (ideally in a pharmaceutical environment).
• Management of projects in an international context.
• Proven leadership capability and managerial experience at a senior level.
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree, ideally in Engineering.

Specific job skills

• In‑depth insight into pharmaceutical manufacturing and pharmaceutical standards/compliance.
• Deep understanding of quality, operations and logistics.
• People and departmental management.

Competencies

• Translating Strategy
• Interpreting and Internalising Information
• Offering Insights
• Making Decisions
• Managing Performance
• Customer Awareness

Aspen fully subscribes to the principles of Employment Equity and will make decisions in line with this ethos.

Closing date: 30 December 2025