Plant Operations Leader — Lean Excellence & Safety

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus structure

Medical aid

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Plant Operations Manager to lead the Mahikeng facility in North West. You will oversee production scheduling, budgets, safety, and continuous improvement initiatives, guiding supervisors and cross-functional teams to achieve efficiency and quality targets.

The role demands a strong engineering or business foundation, 10+ years in plant operations, and practical expertise with lean manufacturing and ERP systems. On-site work is required at the Mahikeng site.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical or Electrical) or Business Admin.
• MBA is a plus.
• Minimum of 10 years in plant operations management within manufacturing/heavy industry.
• Proven track record in leading large operational teams and complex processes.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing, operational excellence and quality management systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in budgeting, cost control and financial management.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and operational software.
• Commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.
• On-site work in Mahikeng and adherence to plant protocols.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day plant operations including production scheduling and resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Lead and develop supervisors and operations staff.
• Monitor performance metrics and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee maintenance to minimize downtime and ensure equipment reliability.
• Develop and manage operational budgets and optimize costs.
• Enforce quality control standards across production.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance and supply chain to hit plant goals.
• Drive continuous improvement using lean/Six Sigma principles.
• Maintain positive labor relations and foster high-performance culture.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Financial management

Cost control

Lean manufacturing

Quality management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

MBA

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Plant Operations Manager to lead the Mahikeng facility in North West. You will oversee production scheduling, budgets, safety, and continuous improvement initiatives, guiding supervisors and cross-functional teams to achieve efficiency and quality targets.

The role demands a strong engineering or business foundation, 10+ years in plant operations, and practical expertise with lean manufacturing and ERP systems. On-site work is required at the Mahikeng site.