Production Group Lead - Beverage

Kerry; Durban; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Kerry is seeking a Production Lead in Durban, South Africa to guide Liquids and Spray Drying operations. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives, develop teams, and uphold GMP standards across the site.

You will report to the Production Manager, lead process improvements, train team members, and ensure adherence to site policies while meeting production targets and KPI benchmarks.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Industrial/Chemical Engineering, Production Management, Food Technology, Engineering, Operations Management or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a process environment, with at least 3 years in a Team Lead or Supervisory role.
• Experience in a Food Manufacturing Plant preferred.
• SAP knowledge is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Lead Liquids and Spray Drying production teams to execute production plans and deliver production targets, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources to meet production targets.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis and solve problems that impact safety, quality, costs, and delivery and ensure that unresolved problems are escalated to the site leadership team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to ensure safety, quality, cost, and customer service goals are met.
• Continually oversee and ensure GMP compliance for the equipment, facility and operations.
• Protect the health and safety of all Production employees through instituting and adherence to site safety culture.
• Complete shift reports as required, including the maintenance of production tracking records, reports and spreadsheets to provide information and data for monthly reporting of production efficiency and monthly KPIs.
• Review relevant site policies & procedures and ensure the requirements they specify are documented in standard work and trained out to Team Leaders & Members.
• Train new and existing team members on equipment and operational processes. Maintain and update operating procedures and work instructions to achieve quality and safety standards.
• Maintain product quality and adherence to GMP through management of the team and process to deliver agreed product specifications as defined in quality standards and policies.
• Manage on‑going performance of direct reports, including initiating disciplinary procedures as per the disciplinary policy where necessary.

Skills

Team leadership

Root Cause Analysis

GMP compliance

Safety culture

Production planning

Education

Diploma in Industrial/Chemical Engineering, Production Management, Food Technology, Engineering, Operations Management or Equivalent

Tools

SAP

Job description

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

Requisition ID 65664

Position Type FT Permanent

Workplace Arrangement

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About The Role

This role will lead and develop production teams to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives across Liquids and Spray Drying operations. Drive continuous improvement, resolve operational issues through root cause analysis, maintain GMP compliance, and oversee team performance, training, and adherence to site policies and procedures.

Location Durban, South Africa

Reporting to Production Manager

Key responsibilities

• Lead Liquids and Spray Drying production teams to execute production plans and deliver production targets, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources to meet production targets.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis and solve problems that impact safety, quality, costs, and delivery and ensure that unresolved problems are escalated to the site leadership team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to ensure safety, quality, cost, and customer service goals are met.
• Continually oversee and ensure that GMP compliance for the equipment, facility and operations is maintained within established internal programs and regulatory codes.
• Protect the health and safety of all Production employees through instituting and adherence to site safety culture.
• Complete shift reports as required, including the maintenance of production tracking records, reports and spreadsheets to provide information and data for monthly reporting of production efficiency and monthly KPIs.
• Review relevant site policies & procedures and ensure the requirements they specify are documented in standard work and trained out to Team Leaders & Members.
• Train new and existing team members on equipment and operational processes. Maintain and update operating procedures and work instructions to achieve quality and safety standards.
• Maintain product quality and adherence to GMP through management of the team and process to deliver agreed product specifications as defined in quality standards and policies.
• Manage on‑going performance of direct reports, including initiating disciplinary procedures as per the disciplinary policy where necessary.

Qualifications And Skills

• Preferably a diploma in Industrial/Chemical Engineering, Production Management, Food Technology, Engineering, Operations Management or Equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a process environment, at least three years of which in a Team Lead or Supervisory role.
• Preferably experience within a Food Manufacturing Plant.
• SAP knowledge will be a bonus.