Plant Operations Manager

Network Finance; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

NETWORK FINANCE is seeking a seasoned Operations Leader for a chemical process/continuous manufacturing environment in Gauteng. The role demands 10+ years’ experience, a strong track record in production management, and expertise in process operations, safety, and policy development.

The successful candidate will drive plant performance, lead cross-functional teams, and champion continuous improvement initiatives, with responsibility for Section 16.2 appointment and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• BEng or BTech in Chemical Engineering is required or preferred.
• GCC Factories qualification is advantageous.
• Additional qualifications in HSE, Risk Management, or Production Management are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily plant operations to ensure safe, efficient production.
• Drive continuous improvement, productivity, quality, and cost optimisation.
• Fulfil responsibilities associated with the Section 16.2 legal appointment.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, review, and maintain operational procedures, policies, and work instructions.
• Monitor plant performance and implement strategies to improve throughput and efficiency.
• Lead incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Technical teams.
• Support plant expansion projects and commissioning activities.
• Build and develop a high-performance operations culture.

Skills

Process optimization

Leadership

Stakeholder management

HSE awareness

Production planning

Operations management

Risk management

Incident investigation

Education

BEng or BTech in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Minimum Qualifications

• BEng or BTech in Chemical Engineering
• GCC Factories advantageous
• Additional qualifications in HSE, Risk Management, or Production Management advantageous

Key Requirements

• 10+ years' experience within a chemical process plant or continuous-process manufacturing environment
• Extensive production and operations management experience
• Proven ability to improve processes and challenge the status quo
• Experience as a Section 16.2 Appointee
• Strong understanding of process operations, plant optimisation, and operational risk management
• Extensive experience developing and maintaining operational policies, procedures, and HSE documentation
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing production and operations teams
• Strong knowledge of production planning, process performance monitoring, and operational excellence initiatives
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage daily plant operations to ensure safe and efficient production
• Drive continuous improvement, productivity, quality, and cost optimisation initiatives
• Fulfil responsibilities associated with the Section 16.2 legal appointment
• Ensure compliance with all safety, health, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• Develop, review, and maintain operational procedures, policies, and work instructions
• Monitor plant performance and implement strategies to improve throughput, reliability, and efficiency
• Lead incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective action programmes
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Technical teams
• Support plant expansion projects, commissioning activities, and operational readiness programmes
• Build and develop a high-performance operations culture

Ideal Industry Background

Candidates from the following industries will be highly regarded:

• Chemical Manufacturing
• Petrochemical Processing
• Industrial Gas Production
• Speciality Chemicals
• Energy & Utilities
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• Mining & Mineral Processing
• Continuous-Process Manufacturing

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a leader who combines strong production management capability with a hands-on approach to plant operations. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of improving operational performance, strengthening HSE culture, and implementing meaningful changes that challenge the status quo and deliver measurable results.