Operations & Technical Manager (Feed mill)

Jobs2day SA; Kariega; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobs2day SA in Kariega, Eastern Cape, invites an experienced Operations & Technical Manager to oversee integrated engineering, production and operational functions of the feed mill.

You will lead maintenance, production planning, quality, logistics and safety, driving reliability and continuous improvement while reporting to the Group Feedmill Manager. This senior role requires a proven track record in manufacturing environments and a proactive, safety‑conscious leadership style.

Qualifications

• BEng in mechanical or electrical engineering.
• 5+ years' management experience, incl. 3 years at middle-management in manufacturing.
• GCC for Factories advantageous.
• Experience managing both engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of plant maintenance, utilities and equipment reliability.
• Experience in production planning, stock control, logistics and cost management.
• Knowledge of occupational health and safety requirements and safe operating procedures.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering and production teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operations of the feed manufacturing facility.
• Manage production planning, scheduling and execution to ensure uninterrupted supply.
• Ensure targets are met without compromising quality, safety or efficiency.
• Review daily production performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Monitor plant capacity, equipment utilisation and production efficiencies.
• Coordinate production, maintenance and logistics to minimise disruptions.
• Provide technical leadership across engineering and maintenance functions.

Skills

Engineering management

Production operations

Stock control

Logistics

Safety culture

Leadership

Cost management

Preventative maintenance

Education

BEng in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

GCC for Factories (advantageous)

Job description

OPERATIONS & TECHNICAL MANAGER – FEEDMILL

Location: Kariega (Uitenhage), Eastern Cape
Industry: Agriculture | Feed Manufacturing | FMCG
Employment Type: Permanent
Recruitment Agency: Jobs2day

POSITION OVERVIEW

Our client, an established organisation operating within the agricultural and manufacturing sector, is seeking an experienced Operations & Technical Manager to oversee the integrated engineering, production and operational functions of its feed manufacturing facility in Kariega.

This is a senior operational leadership opportunity requiring a technically qualified professional with proven experience in engineering management, manufacturing operations, plant maintenance and production optimisation.

The successful candidate will assume overall responsibility for plant reliability, production efficiency, quality, stock control, logistics, cost management and operational performance.

A critical aspect of the role is ensuring uninterrupted feed production and supply while maintaining high standards of occupational health and safety, equipment reliability and operational efficiency.

The position reports directly to the Group Feedmill Manager.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree, preferably in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years' management experience, including at least 3 years at middle-management level within a feedmill, FMCG or similar manufacturing environment.
• Government Certificate of Competency (GCC) for Factories will be advantageous.
• Proven experience managing both engineering and manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of industrial plant maintenance, production processes, utilities and equipment reliability.
• Demonstrated experience in production planning, stock control, logistics and operational cost management.
• Sound knowledge of occupational health and safety requirements and safe operating procedures.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering and production teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Operations & Production Management

• Oversee the daily operations of the feed manufacturing facility.
• Manage production planning, scheduling and execution to ensure consistent and uninterrupted feed supply.
• Ensure production targets are achieved without compromising quality, safety or efficiency.
• Review daily production performance, identifying operational constraints and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor plant capacity, equipment utilisation and production efficiencies.
• Coordinate production, maintenance and logistics activities to minimise operational disruptions.

2. Engineering & Technical Management

• Provide technical leadership across all engineering and maintenance functions.
• Develop, implement and continuously improve preventative maintenance strategies.
• Ensure optimal equipment availability, reliability and uptime.
• Oversee technical fault-finding and corrective maintenance activities.
• Identify recurring equipment failures and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Ensure plant machinery, equipment and utilities operate safely and efficiently.
• Drive engineering improvements that enhance plant productivity and reliability.

3. Stock Control & Logistics

• Oversee the management of raw materials, finished feed and engineering spares.
• Ensure accurate stock records, inventory reconciliation and effective stock utilisation.
• Monitor inventory availability to support continuous production.
• Coordinate logistics and distribution requirements to maintain reliable feed supply.
• Identify opportunities to reduce stock losses, inefficiencies and unnecessary operating costs.

4. Financial & Operational Performance

• Take accountability for operational costs and agreed performance indicators.
• Analyse production, engineering, stock and cost-related information.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement corrective measures.
• Monitor and improve productivity, resource utilisation and cost efficiency.
• Support operational decision-making through accurate reporting and performance analysis.

5. Health, Safety & Quality Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety requirements.
• Maintain safe operating conditions across production and engineering functions.
• Promote a proactive safety culture throughout the facility.
• Ensure consistent compliance with feed quality standards and operational procedures.
• Address operational risks and implement effective preventative measures.

6. Leadership & People Management

• Lead and develop multidisciplinary production and engineering teams.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Monitor team performance against operational objectives.
• Promote teamwork, technical competence and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership and direction in a demanding manufacturing environment.

7. Capital Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities for plant upgrades, process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Initiate and execute capital improvement projects.
• Support improvements in equipment performance, reliability and manufacturing processes.
• Develop and implement maintenance and operational improvement strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement through the integration of engineering and production requirements.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Candidates should demonstrate strong practical experience in the following areas:

• Engineering and maintenance management
• Manufacturing and production operations
• Mechanical and/or electrical fault-finding
• Preventative maintenance and plant reliability
• Production planning and operational efficiency
• Industrial utilities and plant equipment
• Raw material, finished product and spares inventory management
• Logistics and supply continuity
• Occupational health and safety
• Operational cost control and performance analysis
• Capital projects and plant improvements
• Multidisciplinary team leadership

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate will be:

• Technically competent with strong operational judgement.
• A decisive and accountable leader.
• Analytical, solutions-driven and commercially aware.
• Comfortable managing production and engineering priorities simultaneously.
• Capable of performing effectively under pressure.
• Proactive in identifying operational risks and implementing improvements.
• Committed to safety, reliability, operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Only candidates meeting the relevant qualifications and experience requirements will be considered for shortlisting.