Machine Lead

Kimberly-Clark; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading multinational manufacturing company in Cape Town is looking for a Machine Lead to oversee operations at their Epping Mill. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of experience in high-speed production environments, demonstrate strong leadership in achieving production targets while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. In this role, you'll be a key player in creating a safe working environment and developing your team's technical skills to drive performance. Competitive benefits are offered including medical insurance and retirement savings.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Medical insurance with employer contribution

Provident fund for retirement savings

Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience on high-speed production equipment.
• At least 6 months in an acting role as Shift Production Technician or Machine Lead.
• Experience with diaper or feminine care production is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the machine crew to achieve target throughput and quality.
• Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Conduct performance management activities for crew members.

Skills

Operational Excellence

Lean Six Sigma

Mechanical Systems Knowledge

Pneumatic Systems Knowledge

Leadership

Education

National Technical Diploma in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Job Description

Machine Lead, Epping Mill, Cape Town

Job posting closing date: 19th January 2026, end of day

As a person, you’re a learner – a natural leader – someone who is always taking initiative to make things better and bring others along with you. You live your life in alignment with the highest values of integrity and quality, always ensuring your responsibilities become a long‑term success story. In this role, you’ll help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU.

In This Role, You Will

• KPI’s: Zero Reportable Incidents; Quality Targets; Waste Targets; Rate of Operation Targets; Housekeeping/ 5S Standards; Safety
• Ensure compliance to all departmental and plant safety rules and regulations. All non-conformances should be dealt with immediately all unresolved issues must be raised with Asset Leader. Follow the correct WSWP and Process Instruction for all tasks performed. Carry out continual development of process optimization to ensure safety.
• Promote a safe working environment through driving compliance with Safety policies and procedures.
• Quality
• Ensure all quality issues are reported and logged on the appropriate documentation.
• Continuous monitoring of EWMA and coordinating of relevant corrective actions. Maintain a “Run to Target” philosophy at all times.
• Adherence to the Quality Management System by the Shift Crew and targets are met
• Manager Board 0/ 1 & First Off Inspection process
• Manage NCR’s process and coordinate with LCM’s
• Productivity
• Leads the crew that runs the machine to achieve the target throughput, yield, and uptime without compromising safety and quality.
• Troubleshoots and documents all reasons for waste and delay during the shift, communicate any outstanding items with recommended action plans.
• Participates in all changeovers, ensuring they are performed always using good run settings and best practices.
• Continuously monitoring of mill performance on the assets and palletisers and updating performance boards.
• Manage shift resource to achieve production targets for ROO and Waste.
• Controlling of labour to budget levels.
• Manage material consumption on shift to budget levels or better.
• Manage consumption of operating supplies on shift to budget levels or又better.
• Manage and co-ordinate problem solving on shift
• Manage TIP/TOP - compliance to plan and manage change overs to committed volumes
• Adherence to call out procedure
• Manage completion of Leader Standard Work for self and team
• Lead the Tier 1 Meetings and attend Tier 2 meetings
• Housekeeping
• Maintain 5S housekeeping principles in the department, including all equipment (asset/ palletisers) and surrounds. Ensure all unused items are removed from the operating area and stored correctly.
• Ensure the work area is clean and tidy at shift change, handover with the oncoming Machine lead giving detailed information of machine status.
• Ensures that his crew has housekeeping checklists all the time and உருவ the checks are completed.
• Human Resources
• Manage the operating team on shift to achieve objectives.
• Identify areas of development required for team members to improve individual and team performance.
• Ensure that all departmental guidelines are adhered to by the team.
• Manage and conduct performance management activities for his crew members.
• Facilitate effective one on ones and drive focus development plans.
• Coach and train operators in their respective positions.
• Manage absenteeism through effective, consistently and fairly utilises HR system to correct misconduct
• Manage behaviour of shift crew from shift to shift
• Month end process management on Overtime, Acting allowance etc. with the support of the Shift Manager.
• Effectively plan and coordinate leave crew
• Technical Development
• Assisting with the planning and set up of the machine for all product and process trials.
• Provide technical information to the maintenance teams detailing work requests for planned and reactive maintenance.
• Development of the team’s process knowledge on an ongoing basis through one on one coaching and employee assessments.
• Drive multiskilling and develop team members to be able to cross function on asset.
• Adhere and implement best practices on the machine.

About Us

Huggies. Kleenex. Cottonelle. Scott. Kotex. Poise. Depend. Kimberly-Clark Professional. You already know our legendary brands—and so does the rest of the world. In fact, millions of people use Kimberly-Clark products every day. We know these amazing Kimberly-Clark products wouldn’t exist without talented professionals, like you.

At nitori此 Kimberly-Clark, you’ll be part of the best team committed to driving innovation, growth and impact. We’re founded on more than 150 years of market leadership, and we’re always looking for new and better ways to perform – so there’s your open door of opportunity. It’s all here for you at Kimberly-Clark.

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Led by Purpose. Driven by You.

About You

You perform at the highest level possible, and you appreciate a performance culture fueled by authentic caring. You want to be part of a company actively dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development.

You love what you do, especially when the work you do makes a difference. At Kimberly-Clark, we’re constantly exploring new ideas on how, when, and where we can best achieve results.

In this manufacturing role, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center.

To succeed in this role, you will need the following:

Minimum Requirements

• National Technical Diploma in Mechanicalinputs or Electrical Engineering would be an added advantage.
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience on high-speed production equipment, of which at least 6 months must have been in an acting role as Shift Production Technician / Machine Lead attaining key KPI’s
• Added advantage - 5 years diaper and or femcare experience with a proven track record in KPI delivery
• Blue belt SS would be required to support our continues improvement journey and P2030 adoption.
• Manufacturing / Operations excellence knowledge
• Lean 6 sigma
• Working knowledge of electrical and pneumatic systems and Adhesive systems (advantage).
• Able to use and understand mechanical drawings
• Previous project experience would be advantageous.

Total Benefits

Here are just a few of the benefits you’d enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark.

South Africa

For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com.

Benefits

• Reward and recognition – to attract and retain the best talent we offer competitive pay. We reward excellence and high performance through annual performance related increases and employee recognition awards.
• Great support for good health – we value good health, and to support you, you will have various options for medical insurance with a 50% employer contribution and Gap cover.
• Planning for the future – Being a member of the Provident fund will provide you with savings to provide an income after retirement.
• Protection for you and your family in case of illness or injury – for peace of mind you will have Life cover, disability insurance and Funeral benefit.
• Learning and growth – our employees value the opportunities for professional and personal growth that -> … }