PACKHOUSE MANAGER – CITRUS – NELSPRUIT

Agricruitment; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Agricruitment in Mpumalanga is seeking an experienced Packhouse Manager to lead all packhouse operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective production while meeting quality, food safety, traceability and export market requirements.

You will oversee people leadership, labour planning, maintenance coordination, budgeting and continuous improvement, drive audits and records, and ensure health and safety compliance in a busy harvest season.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 or equivalent; relevant tertiary qualification preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ management experience in fruit packing, food processing, or high-volume manufacturing; export-fruit experience advantageous.
• Working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, SIZA, Global G.A.P., traceability, food safety, and export requirements.
• Experience managing large permanent and seasonal teams, including labour planning, training, performance, and IR.
• Experience in budgeting, cost control, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office and relevant production/packhouse systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily packhouse operations from intake to dispatch.
• Plan production around harvest volumes, orders and market requirements.
• Monitor productivity, pack-out, labor, quality and waste.
• Ensure product compliance and full intake-to-dispatch traceability.
• Maintain food safety, quality and export compliance.
• Manage audits, records and corrective actions.
• Lead teams and manage staffing, training and performance.
• Ensure health, safety and labor compliance.
• Oversee maintenance, equipment, sanitation and facilities.
• Control budgets, costs, consumables and stock.
• Maintain stakeholder relationships and communicate operational issues.
• Drive continuous improvement and seasonal readiness.

Skills

Strong leadership

Planning & organisation

Decision-making

Commercial focus

Attention to detail

Communication

Hands-on leadership

Education

Grade 12 or equivalent; relevant tertiary qualification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Packhouse systems

Job description

My Client is seeking a Packhouse Manager to lead and manage all aspects of packhouse operations, ensuring safe, efficient and cost-effective production while meeting quality, food safety, traceability and local and export market requirements. The role includes responsibility for people leadership, labour planning, compliance, maintenance coordination, financial control and continuous operational improvement.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 or equivalent; relevant tertiary qualification preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ management experience in fruit packing, food processing, or high-volume manufacturing; export-fruit experience advantageous.
• Working knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, SIZA, Global G.A.P., traceability, food safety, and export requirements.
• Experience managing large permanent and seasonal teams, including labour planning, training, performance, and IR.
• Experience in budgeting, cost control, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office and relevant production/packhouse systems.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage daily packhouse operations from intake to dispatch.
• Plan production around harvest volumes, orders and market requirements.
• Monitor productivity, pack-out, labor, quality and waste.
• Ensure product compliance and full intake-to-dispatch traceability.
• Maintain food safety, quality and export compliance.
• Manage audits, records and corrective actions.
• Lead teams and manage staffing, training and performance.
• Ensure health, safety and labor compliance.
• Oversee maintenance, equipment, sanitation and facilities.
• Control budgets, costs, consumables and stock.
• Maintain stakeholder relationships and communicate operational issues.
• Drive continuous improvement and seasonal readiness.

Competencies

• Strong, visible leadership with the ability to build accountable, high-performing teams.
• Excellent planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Commercially astute, with a strong focus on cost, productivity, and operational performance.
• Quality-driven and detail-oriented, with strong recordkeeping and audit readiness.
• Confident, professional communicator across employees, producers, customers, and management.
• Hands-on, proactive, and results-driven in a fast-paced seasonal environment.
• Willing to work extended hours, weekends, and public holidays during peak packing periods.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

31 OCTOBER 2026