Operations Head (Production)

PPC Recruitment; Krugersdorp; On-site; ZAR 100 000 - 140 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Head of Operations in Krugersdorp to oversee multiple production units. The successful candidate will ensure operational excellence, achieve production targets, and drive sustainability initiatives. Ideal applicants should have over 10 years of leadership experience in agricultural operations, including 5 years at an executive level, with strong skills in stakeholder management and ERP/MRP systems. This role is key to aligning decentralized operations with corporate functions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in agricultural production or operations management.
• Minimum of 5 years at executive or senior leadership level with accountability for multiple sites.
• Expertise in strategic planning and financial stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee multiple production units to ensure operational excellence.
• Drive integration between production and maintenance teams.
• Achieve production targets across all sites.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder management

Operational efficiency

Sustainability initiatives

ERP/MRP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, Operations Management, Engineering

Job description

We are hiring a Head of Operations to lead and oversee multiple geographically dispersed production units. This role is responsible for ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence, and strong financial performance across the business. The Head of Operations will drive integration between decentralized production and maintenance teams and centralized corporate functions to maximize productivity, sustainability, and asset reliability.

The role engages closely with the Executive Team, customers, support teams, operations and production teams, as well as other key stakeholders as required.

Key Performance Indicators

Strategic & Operational Performance

• Achievement of production targets across all sites (volume, yield, quality).

• Year-on-year improvement in operational efficiency and productivity.

• Adherence to operational plans, schedules, and strategic objectives.

• Successful execution of sustainability initiatives and resource optimization strategies.

Financial & Budget Performance

• Operations delivered within approved budgets.

• Reduction in unit production costs and waste.

• Accurate forecasting and effective cost-control measures.

• Capital expenditure delivered on time, within scope and budget.

Maintenance & Asset Reliability

• Asset availability and utilization rates meeting or exceeding targets.

• Reduction in unplanned downtime across production units.

• Preventative maintenance compliance rate.

• Maintenance costs optimized without compromising safety or reliability.

• Extension of asset lifecycle and improved return on assets.

Health, Safety, Quality & Environmental Compliance

• Zero major safety incidents and continuous improvement in safety metrics.

• Compliance with food safety, quality, and environmental standards.

• Successful completion of internal and external audits with minimal findings.

• Reduction in environmental impact indicators (water, energy, waste).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Effective coordination with HR, Finance, Systems, and Maintenance teams.

• Workforce capacity aligned with operational demand.

• Accuracy and integrity of ERP/MRP operational data.

• Timely and accurate consolidated reporting.

Standardization & Continuous Improvement

• Implementation and adherence to standardized SOPs and KPIs across sites.

• Continuous improvement initiatives delivered with measurable gains.

• Audit compliance scores across decentralized operations.

• Successful harmonization of best practices while respecting site-specific needs.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Performance and capability improvement of Production Unit Managers.

• Employee engagement and retention rates.

• Succession plans in place for key operational roles.

• Training completion and skills development metrics achieved.

Project & Change Management

• Delivery of cross-site projects on time, within budget, and to specification.

• Effective stakeholder engagement during change initiatives.

• Minimal operational disruption during implementation of new systems or processes.

Reporting & Executive Communication

• Timely, accurate, and actionable operational and financial reports.

• Quality of insights and recommendations provided to executive leadership.

• Responsiveness to executive and stakeholder information requirements

Location: Krugersdorp

• Bachelors degree in Agronomy, Agriculture, Operations Management, Engineering, or a comparable discipline.

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in agricultural production or operations management, including a minimum of 5 years at executive or senior leadership level with accountability for multiple sites and integrated maintenance functions.

• Demonstrated expertise in enterprise-level strategic planning, financial stewardship, capital investment, and asset optimization.

• Proven track record of leading and integrating decentralized operations with centralized corporate governance and support functions.

• Exceptional executive leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities, including engagement at Board and Executive Committee level.

• Strong experience leveraging ERP/MRP systems and advanced operational reporting to drive performance, governance, and decision-making.