Manager: Production

Premier FMCG (Pty) Ltd; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Premier FMCG is seeking a Production/ Plant Leader to plan and direct production activities, prioritise resources, and uphold cost and quality targets in a high‑performance environment.

You will drive shift planning, packaging interactions, process improvements, and materials availability while leading people management and budget adherence to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Production/ Food & Nutritional Science, Engineering, or Quality.
• Minimum 6 years in a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience in a canning industry would be an added advantage.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate shift activities to meet production plan, yield, and requirements.
• Manage packaging and machine material interaction.
• Drive process improvements to reduce costs and improve safety; introduce new methods as needed.
• Ensure raw materials are available and report shortages to mitigate risk.
• Lead people management processes: workforce planning, recruitment, development, performance management, and relations.
• Maintain a work environment that boosts morale and productivity.
• Monitor budgets (OPEX and CAPEX) to stay within budget and pursue cost savings.
• Ensure compliance with laws, food safety and quality standards, and audit readiness.
• Maintain hygiene and housekeeping standards for audits.

Skills

GMP knowledge

SAP/SYSPRO/Shopware

Advanced Excel

PowerPoint

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree/Advanced Diploma in Production/ Food & Nutritional Science/Engineering/Quality

Tools

Shopware

DMS

SAP

SYSPRO

Job description

Premier FMCG is at the heart of South Africa’s FMCG industry, delivering trusted, iconic brands across our Bakery, Milling, Confectionery, Home & Personal Care and Culinary divisions. We are driven by innovation, collaboration, and a high-performance growth culture. We empower our people to strive for excellence ensuring that our products and people make a difference in the everyday lives of our consumers.

Job Purpose:

Plans and directs production activities and establishes production priorities for products in keeping with effective operations and cost factors and utilization of human resources, machines, and equipment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and coordinate shift activities to meet overall production and that production plan is met as per requirements with the required yield.
• Manage packaging and machine material interaction.
• Process improvement - Identify inefficiencies in production workflows and implement strategies to enhance output, reduce costs and improve safety. Introduce new production methods as needed.
• Ensure raw materials required for the production plan are available and report any shortages timeously to mitigate risk to the business.
• Deploy people management processes – workforce planning, recruitment, and selection, learning and development, performance management and employee relations etc. effectively, in line with organisational policies, procedures and prevailing improvement initiatives.
• Manage the working environment and ensure it contributes to improving staff morale and increasing productivity.
• Manage budgets, monitor expenses (OPEX and CAPEX) to be within the budget and continually strive to save costs.
• Ensure compliance to all legislative laws, occupational health, food safety and food quality standards and systems.
• Ensure hygiene and housekeeping is maintained at required levels for readiness of any food hygiene /safety audit.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree / Advanced Diploma / NQF level 7 (Production/ Food & Nutritional Science, Engineering, Quality) is essential.
• At least 6 years’ experience in the food manufacturing environment is essential
• Experience in a Canning Industry (Meat and Vege processing and control processes) would be an added advantage

Skills and competencies:

• Sound knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices is essential
• Knowledge of Shopware / DMS/ SAP/ SYSPRO and/or Production management systems
• Inventory management principles and procedures (Intermediate)
• Negotiations management principles (Intermediate)
• Material run out models (Intermediate)
• Advanced Excel skills (Data manipulation, Pivots as required)
• Intermediate PowerPoint skills is essential
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities (Intermediate)
• Cross-functional team working skills (Intermediate)
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills (Intermediate)

Premier FMCG is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including people living with disabilities. By applying, you consent to the processing of your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) for recruitment purposes.

Closing date: 4 October 2026