Packaging Team Leader

AB InBev Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

AB InBev Africa is seeking a proactive Operations Leader to drive safety, quality, and efficiency on the production floor in Cape Town. You will own SHE standards, manage line losses, and lead autonomous teams to meet daily and weekly plans.

The role requires a National Diploma in Engineering with 2–5 years FMCG/manufacturing experience, plus a packaging traineeship or leadership training. A strong track record in problem solving and continuous improvement is essential.

Qualifications

• National Diploma or equivalent in Engineering.
• 2–5 years FMCG / Manufacturing experience.
• Completed Packaging Traineeship, ABInBev Leadership, or Artisan Training (Planning experience advantageous).
• 3–5 years of factory production experience.
• Proven shift production expertise and a track record of discipline and problem‑solving.

Responsibilities

• Own and enforce SHE standards, PPE compliance, PTW, machine guarding, and safe work procedures.
• Lead/trigger quality events and ensure actions are closed and verified for effectiveness.
• Manage line losses, material usage, and cost per hectolitre; optimize manpower deployment.
• Interpret and execute daily/weekly production plans; balance resources and SKUs.
• Lead people to work autonomously, coach on VPO methods, and conduct regular performance reviews.

Skills

Shift production

Leadership

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Safety awareness

Education

National Diploma in Engineering

Bachelor’s degree (added advantage)

Job description

Dreaming big is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company. It’s our culture. It’s our heritage. And more than ever, it’s our future. A future where we’re always looking forward. Always serving up new ways to meet life’s moments. A future where we keep dreaming bigger. We look for people with passion, talent, and curiosity, and provide them with the teammates, resources and opportunities to unleash their full potential. The power we create together – when we combine your strengths with ours – is unstoppable. Are you ready to join a team that dreams as big as you do?

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Safety & Environmental Leadership

• Outcome: Everyone goes home safe; the workplace is audit‑ready at all times.
• Own and enforce SHE standards, PPE compliance, SAM (Safety Access to Machines), LOTOTO, Permit‑to‑Work (PTW), machine guarding, and safe work procedures.
• Conduct safety observations, toolbox talks, risk assessments, and layered audits; correct deviations immediately.
• Ensure incident and near‑miss reporting, investigation, and close‑out with effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain 5S/housekeeping and ensure safe isolations during maintenance or breakdowns.
• Proactively manage environmental compliance (spills, waste streams, energy/water discipline) with zero non‑compliances as the target.

Quality Assurance & Process Control

• Outcome: Right‑first‑time product, zero consumer risk, stable processes.
• Ensure all process and product checks are completed at prescribed frequency and properly recorded (SPC charts, MES / VPO systems).
• Verify and trend quality data; respond early to drift; trigger reaction plans; contain, correct, and escape per standards.
• Lead/trigger QFR, 5 Why, and Abnormality Report events according to defined triggers; ensure actions are assigned, closed, and verified for effectiveness.
• Safeguard traceability, material and batch control, and non‑conformance management.
• Partner with Quality Lab for escalations; complete start‑up and post‑maintenance quality verifications.

Cost & Resource Management

• Outcome: Deliver the plan within budget, reducing losses and waste.
• Manage and track line losses (speed, minor stops, breakdowns, rework, start‑up losses, material waste) and drive loss elimination using VPO tools.
• Control material usage (caps, closures, labels, film, pallets, glue), GLY/OSE, utilities, and scrap; uphold FEFO/traceability practices.
• Optimize manpower deployment, overtime, and planned activities (cleaning days, maintenance days) to minimize cost per hectolitre.
• Apply basic financial discipline: adherence to budgets, approval matrices, and accurate administrative records.

Operations & Production Management

• Outcome: Plan attainment through stable, reliable, and efficient operations.
• Interpret and execute the daily/weekly production plan (changeovers); balance resources against SKU mix and constraints; coordinate with Planning and Logistics.
• Monitor OSE (Availability, Performance, Quality) in real time; act on losses and abnormalities; call in specialist resources when triggers are met.
• Ensure the team completes Autonomous Operations steps (cleaning, inspection, lubrication, tightening, basic adjustments); validate defect tagging and closure.
• Support artisans during breakdowns: safe stop, initial troubleshooting, fault isolation, documentation, and post‑repair validation (ramp‑up, checks, early loss detection).
• Operate equipment when needed to protect the schedule and coach correct standards on the floor.
• Ensure robust shift handover (leader‑to‑leader and operator‑to‑operator): machine status, quality status, defects, material constraints, planned interventions.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, work instructions, VPO standards audits, and documentation requirements.
• Complete accurate end‑of‑shift reports (results, losses, quality, materials, safety, 5S); ensure robust leader handover.

Leadership & People Development

• Outcome: A motivated, autonomous team that can self‑manage and solve problems.
• Lead people towards a shared dream; communicate vision, purpose, and standards clearly; celebrate successes visibly and often.
• Build team autonomy: enable operators to detect, contain, and correct abnormalities; coach on VPO methods, 5 Why, reaction plans, and standard work.
• Conduct one‑on‑ones, and hold regular performance and team target reviews, Training Needs Analysis (TNA), and competency assessments (e.g., SKAP); facilitate planned training and cross‑skilling.
• Manage attendance, timekeeping, and workforce issues on shift; uphold people policies and a healthy IR climates

Minimum Requirements:

• National Diploma or equivalent in Engineering (Elec, Mech, Industrial, Instrumental) (Bachelor’s degree in Engineering will be an added advantage)
• Minimum 2-5 years FMCG / Manufacturing industries experience
• Completed Packaging Traineeship, ABInBev Leadership, or Artisan Training (Planning experience will be an added advantage)
• 3–5 years of factory production experience
• Proven shift production expertise, and a strong performance record marked by discipline, problem‑solving skills, and a drive for continuous improvement

Additional Information:

• BAND: VIII

SAB/ABInBev is an equal opportunity employer, and all appointments will be made in line with SAB/ABInBev employment equity plan and talent requirements.