Packaging Team Leader

AB InBev Africa; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 250 000 - 350 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading beverage company in South Africa is seeking an experienced Team Leader for packaging operations. This role demands a hands-on leader responsible for delivering production plans with a focus on safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Ideal candidates will have a National Diploma in Engineering and 2-5 years of experience within the FMCG sector. The Team Leader will coach team members, enforce safety standards, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. This is a pivotal role in fostering high performance and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-5 years FMCG / Manufacturing industries experience.
• 3-5 years of factory production experience.
• Proven shift production expertise marked by discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team to deliver production plans with superior quality.
• Own and enforce SHE standards and ensure compliance.
• Manage costs and resources effectively to meet budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Problem-solving

Continuous improvement

Education

National Diploma or equivalent in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in engineering

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 Purpose of the team leader packaging is to lead the team to safely, consistently, and cost‑effectively deliver the production plan with superior quality, by role‑modelling VPO routines, coaching standards, and building operator autonomy so the team can operate and problem solve with confidence. The Team Leader is a hands‑on, on‑the‑floor leader who turns strategy into shift‑ready execution and fosters a shared dream culture of high performance and continuous improvement.

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 escalate 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
• Leadership, or Artisan Training (Planning ABInBevCompleted Packaging Traineeship, 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. The advert has minimum requirements listed. Management reserves the right to use additional/ relevant information as criteria for short-listing.