Packing Manager

Mayfly Agri; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mayfly Agri is seeking an experienced Packhouse Operations Manager to coordinate packing across multiple packhouses in the Eastern and Western Cape. The role ensures volumes, timing, specifications and quality meet export standards while leading Packhouse Managers including third‑party or grower‑owned facilities.

The successful candidate will plan weekly and seasonal packing schedules, optimize the flow from farms to packhouses, translate customer specs into clear instructions, negotiate rates,

Qualifications

• Must have Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in citrus packing operations with multi-site coordination.
• Experience in management or supervision across packing operations.
• Solid knowledge of export fruit quality standards and packing processes.
• Travel across Eastern Cape and Western Cape is required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate packing operations across multiple packhouse locations ensuring alignment on volumes, timing, specs and quality.
• Act as the primary contact between the company and each Packhouse Manager.
• Plan and coordinate weekly and seasonal packing schedules with relevant teams.
• Ensure flow from farms to packhouses is optimized for cost, timing and quality.
• Translate customer packing specifications into actionable instructions for packhouses.
• Ensure compliance with export standards and company quality requirements across sites.
• Investigate quality issues and implement corrective actions.
• Negotiate packing rates and service levels with third-party and grower-owned packhouses.
• Monitor KPIs and cost benchmarks; adjust network as needed.
• Maintain records for reporting to COO and Commercial team.
• Coordinate audits and ensure food safety, health and safety compliance.

Education

Diploma/Bachelor's in Agriculture or related

Tools

Packhouse management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline
• Minimum 5 years' experience in citrus (or comparable fresh fruit) packing operations, with proven multi-site or network coordination experience
• Must have prior management or supervisory experience across packing operations
• Solid knowledge of export fruit quality standards and packing processes is essential
• Experience negotiating and managing third-party service providers is highly desirable
• Strong coordination and orchestration abilities; comfortable operating in a matrix environment without full direct authority over packhouse teams
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple sites and priorities simultaneously
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret and act on performance data across the network
• Ability to work under pressure and meet packing deadlines during peak season
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and packhouse management systems
• Comfortable with regular travel across the Eastern Cape and Western Cape

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Coordinating packing operations across multiple packhouse locations, ensuring alignment on volumes, timing, specifications, and quality standards.
• Serving as the primary point of contact between the company and each Packhouse Manager (third-party or grower-owned).
• Planning and coordinating weekly and seasonal packing schedules in collaboration with the Production and Grower Development Manager, the Planning and Logistics team, and the Commercial team.
• Ensuring the flow of fruit from farms and growers to the appropriate packhouse is optimized for cost, timing, and quality outcomes.
• Receiving customer packing specifications from the Commercial team and translating them into clear, actionable instructions for each packhouse.
• Ensuring packed fruit consistently meets customer specifications, export standards, and company quality requirements across all sites.
• Investigating quality issues and complaints and implementing corrective actions across the packhouse network.
• Working closely with the Quality Assurance team to maintain and continuously improve product standards.
• Negotiating packing rates, terms, and service levels with third-party and grower-owned packhouses.
• Monitoring the performance of each packhouse against agreed KPIs and cost benchmarks.
• Building strong working relationships with Packhouse Managers to secure priority attention for the company's fruit during peak periods.
• Evaluating the packhouse network periodically and recommending adjustments, including adding, removing, or renegotiating with specific facilities, based on performance and strategic fit.
• Tracking packing yield, efficiency, waste, and cost per carton across all packhouses, identifying performance gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Maximizing pack-out and financial return from every bin packed.
• Implementing continuous improvement initiatives across the packhouse network.
• Maintaining accurate production, quality, and cost records for reporting to the COO and Commercial team.
• Ensuring all packhouses used by the company comply with food safety, health and safety, and export regulations.
• Verifying that each packhouse maintains current certifications, including Global G.A.P., BRC, HACCP, or equivalent standards required by target markets.
• Coordinating audits and inspections at packhouses on behalf of the company as required.