Production Manager

Profile Personnel; Humansdorp; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Profile Personnel in South Africa seeks an experienced Production Manager to lead our cheese production operations, including Natural Cheese, Processed Cheese and Cheese Packing. You will drive operational excellence, food safety and continuous improvement in a fast-paced dairy environment.

Responsibilities include overseeing daily production, developing teams, ensuring GMP and safety, planning schedules, and collaborating with supply chain, engineering and quality teams to meet customer demand

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a production management role in manufacturing, preferably dairy/food manufacturing.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• High attention to quality, food safety and operational excellence.
• Reliable, disciplined and able to perform under pressure.
• Willing to work overtime when required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day cheese production operations, achieving targets, efficiencies and quality.
• Lead and develop production teams through coaching, training and performance management.
• Ensure GMP, food safety, quality, housekeeping and Health & Safety standards.
• Plan and manage production schedules to meet customer demand while optimizing labour, equipment and resources.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with supply chain, purchasing, engineering and quality teams to ensure smooth production processes.
• Monitor production performance, identify trends and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support process improvements, equipment upgrades and implementation of new technologies.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Decision making

Communication

Problem solving

Planning

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science / Operations / Production Management / Engineering

Job description

Are you an experienced Production Manager with a strong background in food manufacturing? We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven professional to lead our cheese production operations, overseeing Natural Cheese, Processed Cheese and Cheese Packing facilities. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated leader who is passionate about operational excellence, food safety and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day management of cheese manufacturing operations, ensuring production targets, efficiencies and quality standards are achieved.

• Lead and develop production teams through effective coaching, training and performance management.

• Ensure compliance with GMP, food safety, quality, housekeeping and Health & Safety standards.

• Plan and manage production schedules to meet customer demand while optimising labour, equipment and resources.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.

• Collaborate with supply chain, purchasing, engineering and quality teams to ensure smooth production processes.

• Monitor production performance, identify trends and implement corrective actions where required.

• Support process improvements, equipment upgrades and the implementation of new technologies.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Operations/Production Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Dairy Qualification or a related field.

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a production management role within a manufacturing environment, preferably dairy, cheese or food manufacturing.

• Strong leadership, people management and team development skills.

• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

• High attention to detail with a strong focus on quality, food safety and operational excellence.

• Reliable, disciplined and able to perform effectively under pressure.

• Willing to work overtime when operational requirements demand.

What We're Looking For

• A hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Strong organisational and planning skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.

• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.