Operations Manager

The Working Earth; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee production at their growing facility in Randburg, Gauteng. This role involves ensuring seamless operations, maintaining food safety standards, and driving continuous improvement. Ideal candidates will have 5–7 years of experience in high-volume FMCG environments and a strong understanding of compliance regulations such as HACCP and GMP. This is an exciting opportunity to lead teams and optimize resources in a dynamic industry.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years’ experience in food manufacturing, ideally in cereals, snacks, or bakery.
• Proven success in managing high-volume FMCG production.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMP, ISO/FSSC 22000, and South African regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all factory activities including production, packaging, warehousing, and logistics.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, yield, and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead and motivate production teams to achieve operational excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Food Technology, or similar

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Are you an experienced Operations Manager with a passion for driving excellence in food manufacturing? Our client is looking for a results‑driven leader to oversee end‑to‑end production at their fast‑growing facility. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a high‑volume FMCG environment, champions quality, and knows how to build strong customer relationships.

As the Operations Manager, you’ll be responsible for ensuring seamless factory operations, maintaining world‑class food safety standards, optimizing costs, and steering continuous improvement. You will also play a critical customer‑facing role—strengthening partnerships, understanding market demand, and ensuring top‑tier service delivery.

What You’ll Do

Production & Operations Leadership

• Oversee all factory activities including production, packaging, warehousing, and logistics.
• Manage production planning to meet customer demand while reducing downtime and waste.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance efficiency, yield, and cost‑effectiveness.

Quality & Compliance

• Uphold stringent food safety standards (HACCP, FSSC 22000, GMP).
• Monitor product quality and quality control processes.
• Manage and resolve customer complaints with urgency and professionalism.

People Management

• Lead and motivate production teams to achieve operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork.
• Conduct performance reviews and develop succession pipelines.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage budgets and optimize operational costs.
• Track key KPIs including production output, OEE, wastage, and downtime.
• Work with procurement to secure cost‑effective raw materials and packaging.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Enforce compliance with OHSA and internal safety policies.
• Champion sustainability efforts across energy, waste, and sourcing.

They are looking for someone with the following:

• Degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Food Technology, or similar.
• 5–7 years’ experience in food manufacturing—ideally cereals, snacks, or bakery.
• Proven success in managing high‑volume FMCG production.
• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMP, ISO/FSSC 22000, and South African regulations.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning platforms.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Analytical thinker with excellent problem‑solving ability.
• Effective communication and relationship‑building skills.