Plant Manager

CHEP South Africa (Pty) Ltd; South Africa; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEP South Africa (Pty) Ltd seeks an experienced Plant Manager responsible for end-to-end plant operations, safety leadership, and performance management. The role focuses on cost control, process improvements, and coordination with 3rd party providers within Eswatini and Mozambique scopes.

You will develop relationships with service providers, ensure policy adherence, and drive safety and quality across shifts, while managing staff and engaging stakeholders to meet KPI targets.

Qualifications

• Degree or completed diploma; Six Sigma Green Belt certification advantageous.
• 10 years production management experience in a unionized environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on leadership by mentoring, coaching, and guiding employees.
• Lead and enhance safety performance on shift, promoting a proactive safety culture.
• Manage shift maintenance activities, resolving equipment breakdowns with the maintenance team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives on shift to enhance efficiency, quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor and manage plant costs and yield in collaboration with the Plant Manager.
• Address performance and attendance matters in collaboration with HR.
• Ensure full compliance with CHEP procedures and SOPs.

Skills

Results driven

Commercial acumen

Computer literacy

Communication

Organisational skills

Negotiation

People management

Industrial relations

OSHACT knowledge

Education

Degree or Diploma

Six Sigma Green Belt

Tools

SAP

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact. What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description Key Responsibilities May Include: Provide hands‑on leadership by mentoring, coaching, and guiding employees, addressing employee relations issues, and fostering a positive and productive work environment. Lead and enhance safety performance on shift, promoting a proactive safety culture through training, accident prevention, and rehabilitation programs, ensuring compliance with safety standards. Manage shift maintenance activities, resolving equipment breakdowns in coordination with the maintenance team to maintain uninterrupted plant operations. Drive continuous improvement initiatives on shift, implementing best practices to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost‑effectiveness across end to end operations. Monitor and manage the plant's operational costs and yield, working closely with the Plant Manager to optimize performance and contribute to the overall plant objectives. Address performance and attendance matters in collaboration with HR, ensuring that all plant staff meet operational expectations. Ensure full compliance with CHEP procedures and work instructions, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and in line with company standards and operational goals.

Position Purpose

The Plant Manager will have overall responsibility for equipment processing activities for the Plant/s under his/her control. The incumbent is responsible to develop and manage relationships with all 3rd party service providers as well as customers where onsite activities occur within their area of responsibility. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring that all Company policies and procedures (ie SLA’s and SOP’s) are adhered to and implemented by all staff and 3rd party contractors situated in his/her area of responsibility.

Key Accountabilities

People and Safety

Promote and drive a culture of Zero Harm. Implement and drive the safety strategies across CHEP and TPM plants. Responsible for the GAP, SEMP and Environmental requirements and audit results. Recruit, motivate and develop subordinates and ensure a succession plan is in place.

Cost and Metrics

Develop, implement and manage processes to drive efficiencies and cost reductions. Managing plant costs, production, ensuring highest physical throughput meeting company objectives. Report on all Plant KPI’s and compile monthly reports.

Stock Management

Responsible for the management and control of all hire stock and raw material. Highlight areas of risk and manage variances to ensure the prevention of any stock losses. Participates in regular stock audits, supervises all quarterly and annual stock‑count audits and resolves queries. Ensures that the area of responsibility is efficiently stocked with both hire equipment and repair material to meet customer requirements.

Quality

Develop and implement quality systems to ensure customer quality standards are met. Conducts quality audits and analyse the data to ensure corrective action is taken for poor quality and/or over‑repair. Follow up and resolve all customer complaints and recommends/implements solutions.

3rd Party Service Providers

Manage and assist 3rd Party Service Providers through Service Level Agreement stipulations and requirements. Effectively develop 3rd party relationships with a continuous focus on reducing costs through cooperative initiatives and amicable business negotiations. Ensure 3rd party compliance to all CHEP Operational SOP’s as well as statuary requirements which includes the LRA, BCEA, EE, and OHSACT.

Operational Systems

Ensures that all legal and statutory requirements (such as labour legislation) as well as Company policies and procedures applicable to the Operations function are implemented and complied with by all staff. Ensures efficient and effective operating methods (i.e. for inspection, repair, manufacture, etc.) are developed and maintained to achieve productivity, quality and cost targets.

Plant and Property Maintenance

Responsible for the overall maintenance of the plant to ensure a smooth, efficient operation of the plant and machinery at the Service Centre(s) in accordance with Company and Government Regulations and Standards Ensure that all electrical and mechanical equipment are operating in strict accordance with Government and Company Rules and Regulations.

Scope Countries

Eswatini and Mozambique

Locations

2 – 6 (Including a Large service centre)

Key Requirements

Degree or a Completed Diploma Six Sigma Green Belt Certified (Will be Advantageous) 10 Years Production Management experience in a unionized environment

Skills and Knowledge

Results driven Sound business and commercial acumen. Computer literacy (SAP, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc). Assertive with good communication, organisational and negotiation skills. Sound people management with extensive knowledge of Industrial Relations. Good knowledge of OSHACT Safety legislation and procedures is essential.

#LI-CH1 Remote Type Not Remote

Skills to succeed in the role Adaptability, Adaptability, Change Management, Coaching, Computer Literacy, Cross‑Functional Work, Data Analysis, Data‑Driven Decision Making, Data Literacy, Delegation, Digital Literacy, Emotional Intelligence, Feedback, Inclusive Leadership, Innovation, Inspiring Others, Learn From Mistakes, Mathematic Literacy, Mentoring, Mentorship, Motivating Teams, Prioritization, Scheduling, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Thinking {+ 1 more}

• Adaptability
• Adaptability
• Change Management
• Coaching
• Computer Literacy
• Cross‑Functional Work
• Data Analysis
• Data‑Driven Decision Making
• Data Literacy
• Delegation
• Digital Literacy
• Emotional Intelligence
• Feedback
• Inclusive Leadership
• Innovation
• Inspiring Others
• Learn From Mistakes
• Mathematic Literacy
• Mentoring
• Mentorship
• Motivating Teams
• Prioritization
• Scheduling
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Strategic Thinking
• {+ 1 more}

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Fraud Alert

Individuals fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as Brambles or CHEP representatives have scheduled interviews and offered fraudulent employment opportunities with the intent to commit identity theft or solicit money. Brambles and CHEP never conduct interviews via online chat or request money as a term of employment. If you have a question as to the legitimacy of an interview or job offer, please contact us at [e-mail].

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact. What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model, for available positions.