Packaging Team Leader

SAB; Polokwane; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

SAB is seeking a skilled Operations/Production professional to lead safety, environmental compliance and quality controls on the shop floor at the Limpopo site. You will drive production plans, monitor OSE metrics, and coach frontline teams to achieve first‑time quality and on‑time delivery.

The role requires FMCG/manufacturing experience, shift capability, and a track record of continuous improvement. AB InBev affiliation is a plus; SAB fosters strong teamwork and safety culture.

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in engineering or related field is required or an added advantage.
• Minimum 2–5 years in FMCG/manufacturing industries.
• Completed Packaging Traineeship or Artisan Training.
• 3–5 years of factory production experience and proven shift production expertise.

Responsibilities

• Safety & Environmental Leadership: enforce SHE standards, PTW, risk assessments, and audits.
• Quality Assurance & Process Control: ensure checks, verify data, and safeguard traceability.
• Cost & Resource Management: control line losses, material usage, and utilities.
• Operations & Production Management: plan attainment, schedule, and handovers.
• Leadership & People Development: coach, conduct reviews, and manage attendance.

Skills

Discipline

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Education

National Diploma in Engineering (Elec/Mech/Industrial/Instrumental)

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (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 elevate 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.

Key Attributes and Competencies

Discipline Problem‑solving skills A drive for continuous improvement

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, or Artisan Training (Planning AB InBev experience will be an added advantage 3–5 years of factory production experience Proven shift production expertise

Additional Information

BAND: VIII SAB/AB InBev is an equal opportunity employer, and all appointments will be made in line with SAB/AB InBev employment equity plan and talent requirements. The South African Breweries (SAB) has reimagined what a beer company can be and has anchored this in a powerful brand purpose – We Dream Big to Create a Future With More Cheers – which articulates who we are and where we are going. At SAB it’s always about more than the beer. We are driven by our passion to demonstrate the unique power of beer to propel South Africa forward. Since our inception over a century ago, SAB has grown to become South Africa's largest brewer, a powerful economic contributor, a leader in sustainability, and a champion of responsible consumption. SAB is one of South Africa’s admired companies and corporate brands. The company has 7 breweries and 42 depots in South Africa, a total workforce of approximately 5000, and supports a beer economy ‘from seed to sip’ of over 250 000 jobs. Its portfolio of beer brands meets the needs of a wide range of consumers and includes leading brands in beer and beyond such as Castle Lager, Carling Black Label, Corona, Brutal Fruit, and Flying Fish