Manufacturing Operations Director: Lean, Quality & Growth

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Company car & fuel allowance

Health insurance

Relocation assistance

Pension & life insurance

International training

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an accomplished Operations Director to lead production facilities in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The role requires a strong background in manufacturing operations, supply chain, and continuous improvement to boost quality and productivity.

You will oversee planning, lean initiatives, budgets, and cross‑functional teams, reporting to senior leadership. A Bachelor's (and ideally a Master's) in engineering or operations, plus 8+ years in heavy industry, are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• A Master's degree is highly desirable.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations management.
• Strong knowledge of lean, Six Sigma and quality improvement methods.
• Solid financial acumen with budgeting and cost control experience.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with ERP systems and MES.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of manufacturing operations including production planning, scheduling and execution.
• Develop strategies to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and improve product quality.
• Lead the production management team and foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental regulations.
• Implement lean manufacturing principles and best practices.
• Manage budgets, forecast production needs and optimize resources.
• Collaborate with supply chain, QA and engineering to ensure seamless operations.
• Drive innovations in production processes and technology adoption.
• Monitor KPIs and report performance to senior leadership.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Master's degree in Engineering/Operations Management

Tools

ERP systems

MES

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an accomplished Operations Director to lead production facilities in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The role requires a strong background in manufacturing operations, supply chain, and continuous improvement to boost quality and productivity.

You will oversee planning, lean initiatives, budgets, and cross‑functional teams, reporting to senior leadership. A Bachelor's (and ideally a Master's) in engineering or operations, plus 8+ years in heavy industry, are expected.