Operations Manager

Kimberly-Clark; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A global manufacturing leader in Cape Town is seeking an Operations Manager. You will lead the operational team to enhance efficiency, quality, and safety while managing costs effectively. This role requires engagement in strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will have experience in complex production environments and a commitment to operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading multi-functional teams in a production environment.
• Strong understanding of cost control and quality systems.
• Ability to analyze data for performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations to ensure safety, quality, and cost efficiency.
• Develop and manage budgets and budget processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across operations.

Job description

Job title : Operations Manager

Job Location : Western Cape, Cape Town

Deadline : October 18, 2025

Overview

To lead the multi-functional / dimensional asset footprint of the Plant and associated operating crews, being responsible for outputs and costs over these assets and liaising with all parties with a vested interest in this production, while ensuring assets are managed, maintained and operated at world class standards in the areas of safety, quality, reliability and cost. To be an active and integral member of the Facility Management Team (FMT). Developing strategic and tactical plans for the plant operations. Leading and guiding Asset leaders and Engineers to drive technical improvement as well as reliability that improves OEE, supports total waste reduction to unlock best in class capability and cost, delivered by high levels of engagement and enablement in the operations team.

Responsibilities

• Cost, Quality, Safety: Proactively explore strategic and tactical opportunities for the site regardless of function and engage the Regional Multi-Functional Teams, and Senior Operations Leadership Team as appropriate.
• Quality: Review Quality systems for adherence and compliance.
• Quality: Participate in quality review meetings.
• Quality: Maintain a “run to target” philosophy at all times.

Data Analysis

• Initiate and participate in strategic discussions. Represents Operations in strategic initiatives, providing the necessary input and analytics around business intelligence.
• Formulate, develop and drive strategic opportunities within the Mill Operations supported by digital analysis and dashboards to deliver improved costs and efficiencies.
• Analyse relevant verified data to identify and gain understanding of opportunities to improve performance in Operations to provide guidance and drive the correct focus areas within Operations.

Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction to the Operations team to accomplish defined objectives in building high levels of engagement.
• Provide coaching and development for teams and individual employees.
• Identify training needs and arrange on-the-job training, and the development of subordinates. All compliance training and licensing is completed within the required times.
• Attend to employee relationship (ER) matters and conducts counselling sessions and takes appropriate action building sound relationships with the union
• Provide technical guidance to direct reports and drive training interventions to close development gaps within the operations teams that support OFR as example to improve enablement.

Cost

• Adopt LEAN practices to drive cost control and identification of opportunities within the operations, from overheads to material consumption that supports accurate forecasting for monthly spend to drive down CC / SU.
• Lead the “External cost savings” Pillar within cost transformation for operations. Consult with local and regional LCM teams to pull through cost saving at the earliest opportunity.
• Key Link between Logistics, Sales, Engineering, Regional CI team and projects related to product and operations.
• Developing and managing budgets and budget processes in Operations.

Safety

• Direct and maintain a high level of safety and 5S housekeeping awareness through 100% employee participation within operations.
• Develop sound safety programmes and maintain good working conditions, adherence to organization and legal safety rules and regulations.
• Continually comply with all K-C regulatory & control requirements, internal controls, while at all times driving accountability and compliance in Operations.
• Understand Environmental and K-C statutory requirements.
• Ensure assets are maintained in a “Safe to operate” condition at all times while promoting all aspects of safe working practices to meet all safety and housekeeping objectives of the plant.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive cycle time optimization and grade change improvement across operations to support free cash flow.
• Optimize performance through the achievement of defined targets, objectives, metrics and standards in the areas of waste, output, machine delay, efficiency and reliability. This includes the execution of continuous improvement plans.
• Ensure Tier 1,2,3 meetings are conducted to organizational standard to drive performance for the day, the week and the month.
• Strategically plan and schedule Kaizen workshops to drive step change performance