Operations Manager

Medical Resources Group (Pty) Ltd; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A South African biotechnology company in Pretoria seeks an Operations Manager to oversee manufacturing operations and ensure compliance with industry standards. The successful candidate will have strong leadership skills and extensive experience in sterile manufacturing environments, especially in biopharma. This is a permanent position providing an opportunity to contribute significantly to veterinary health through vaccine development and manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Management experience in sterile/aseptic manufacturing, preferably biopharma.
• Experience managing both Production and Maintenance teams.
• Strong technical/mechanical knowledge of facility utilities and cleanroom systems.
• Financial and budgeting experience including cost control.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (ISO, cGMP, HACCP).

Responsibilities

• Direct, plan and control all manufacturing operations.
• Oversee the Maintenance Department for required standards.
• Manage raw material sourcing and supplier performance.
• Develop and manage departmental operational budgets.
• Ensure compliance with ISO and cGMP standards.
• Provide operational input into new product introduction.

Skills

Strong leadership and people development capability

Operational planning and project management

Critical thinking and troubleshooting

Effective communication and report writing

Negotiation and conflict resolution

Proficient in MS Office and ERP/MRP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, BPharm, Biotechnology, or Microbiology

Additional management or business qualifications

Job description

Position

Operations Manager (Biopharma) | Location: Roodeplaat, Pretoria | Reports to: Managing Director | Classification: Permanent

About the Opportunity

Our client is a South African-based biotechnology company that plays a vital role in veterinary health. They develop and supply vaccines on a commercial scale, including both registered and autogenous vaccines for poultry, ruminants, and other species. 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.

Primary Purpose of the Role: The position is part of the senior management team of the company overseeing the strategic and operational goals of the organisation. 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 stakeholder 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 Responsibilities

• 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 and 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.

Candidate Profile

Essential Requirements:

• 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 and cGMP, HACCP, or similar).

Key Skills / 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.

Qualifications

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

How to Apply

If you meet the above requirements and are ready to grow your career in veterinary biotechnology, please send your detailed CV to the email address provided. In your subject line please quote the reference: Operations Manager – Roodeplaat. Medical Resources Group is committed to fair and ethical recruitment practices. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.