Operations Manager

Circastaff; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company in South Africa seeks an Operations Manager to oversee its vaccine manufacturing facility. This strategic role involves managing Manufacturing, Production, and Supply Chain teams while ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality standards. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in sterile manufacturing and possess strong leadership skills. The position offers an opportunity to contribute to critical operational goals and improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of management experience in sterile/aseptic manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience managing Production and Maintenance teams.
• Strong technical/mechanical knowledge of production equipment.

Responsibilities

• Direct and control manufacturing operations to meet production targets.
• Lead the Production Management team for operational oversight.
• Manage raw material sourcing and supplier performance.

Skills

Leadership

Operational planning

Critical thinking

Communication

Project management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management or related field

Tools

MS Office (Excel, Word)

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Our client is a South African-based biotechnology company. With focus on veterinary health offering vaccines on a commercial scale. The Operations Manager is a key strategic role responsible for leading the Manufacturing, Production Management, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams within a veterinary vaccine manufacturing facility operating under ISO and cGMP.

The role ensures that products are manufactured safely, efficiently, cost-effectively, and in full compliance with regulatory, biosafety, and quality system requirements. The position is part of the senior management team of the company overseeing the strategic and operational goals of the organization.

There are four senior team leaders that report directly to the position and a further 22 employees that report indirectly into this position.

The Operations Manager will be required to engage and cooperate with peers from other sites in relation to the benchmarking of processes and the transfer of technology. The position requires a leader with strong financial discipline, robust technical and mechanical insight, and the ability to manage and develop multi-disciplinary teams in a sterile/biopharma production environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Manufacturing & Operations Management: Direct, plan and control all manufacturing operations to meet production schedules, product quality standards, safety requirements, and cost targets.
• Lead and develop the Production Management team to ensure reliable day-to-day operational oversight and staff performance.
• Ensure adherence to aseptic processing standards and sterile facility environmental controls.
• Manage all service providers and toll manufacturing contracts.
• Maintenance & Technical Systems: Oversee the Maintenance Department and ensure all equipment, utilities, and facilities are maintained to required operating and GMP standards.
• Ensure preventative maintenance programs, equipment validation/calibration plans, and plant reliability systems are executed effectively.
• Supply Chain & Materials Management: Manage raw material sourcing, supplier performance, inventory control, cold chain/storage requirements, and finished goods release in collaboration with QA/QC and SCM teams.
• Financial & Cost Management: Develop, manage, and control departmental operational budgets, including labour, consumables, maintenance, and utilities. Conduct product costing, cost reviews, waste reduction initiatives, and process efficiency improvement projects.
• Quality, Safety & Compliance: Ensure operations comply with ISO, cGMP, veterinary biological standards, biosafety regulations, and SOPs. Drive continuous improvement in aseptic technique, cleanroom behaviour, and process discipline.
• Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide technical and operational input into new product introduction, scale-up, and technology transfer. Contribute operational data and performance reports to the Managing Director as required.

Essential Knowledge / Experience (min 5 years)

Management experience in sterile/aseptic manufacturing, preferably biopharma, vaccine, veterinary biologicals or biologics production.

Demonstrated experience managing both Production and Maintenance teams.

Strong technical/mechanical knowledge of facility utilities, cleanroom systems, and production equipment.

Financial and budgeting experience including cost control and forecasting.

Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment (ISO, cGMP, HACCP, or similar).

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, BPharm, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or a related scientific/technical field. Additional management or business qualifications are advantageous.

Key Skills / Attributes / Position Specific Competencies

• Strong leadership and people development capability.
• Operational planning and project management.
• Critical thinking, troubleshooting and root cause problem-solving.
• Effective communication and report writing.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word) and ERP/MRP systems.