Production Director

The Hr Company; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hr Company in Durban is seeking an experienced manufacturing leader to oversee all plant operations, including production, quality and fermentation processes. You will translate strategic goals into actionable plans that meet customer demand, quality standards and cost targets.

You will drive operational efficiency, manage budgets, coach a high-performing team and build strong relationships with customers and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years' production/manufacturing experience, including 3+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience in FMCG, fermentation, bulk food ingredients, or related process manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of production planning, quality systems, and cost management.
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive productivity and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall plant operations across production, quality and fermentation processes.
• Develop and implement production plans to meet demand, quality, cost, and delivery targets.
• Drive efficiency, productivity and continuous improvement across the plant.
• Ensure capacity, equipment, materials, people and processes meet targets.
• Take accountability for output, quality and manufacturing costs.
• Develop budgets and manage variable costs to support EBIT targets.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve plant performance.
• Ensure compliance with FSSC, HACCP, ISO, safety and environmental requirements.
• Lead and manage the production team, building a motivated workforce.
• Build relationships with customers, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Provide regular operational reporting to EXCO and the Board.
• Contribute to capital investment decisions and ROI focus.

Skills

Senior leadership

Production planning

Quality systems

Cost management

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Education

Engineering/Operations Management/related degree

MBA advantageous

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead overall plant operations, including production, quality and fermentation processes .
• Develop and implement production plans to meet customer demand, quality standards, cost targets and delivery requirements.
• Drive operational efficiency, productivity and continuous improvement across the plant.
• Ensure appropriate plant capacity, equipment, raw materials, people and processes are in place to achieve production targets.
• Take accountability for production output, quality and manufacturing costs .
• Develop and manage production budgets, variable costs and operational expenditure in support of EBIT targets.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce costs and increase plant performance.
• Ensure compliance with FSSC, HACCP, ISO, safety, environmental and internal control requirements .
• Lead, develop and performance-manage the production team, ensuring a capable and motivated workforce.
• Build effective relationships with customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders.
• Provide regular operational reporting to EXCO and the Board .
• Contribute to capital investment decisions and ensure appropriate focus on ROI.

Requirements

• Relevant degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration or related field .
• MBA would be advantageous.
• Minimum 7 years' production/manufacturing experience , including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role .
• Strong experience within FMCG, fermentation, bulk food ingredients or a related process-manufacturing environment .
• Sound understanding of production planning, quality systems, cost management and plant operations .
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Proven ability to lead teams and drive productivity, quality and continuous improvement.Strategic, analytical and decisive, with strong problem-solving and stakeholder-management skills.

The position requires an experienced manufacturing leader who can combine hands-on operational understanding with strategic and commercial leadership .