Production Manager

Zohorecruit; Pietermaritzburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Zohorecruit in Pietermaritzburg is seeking a commercially minded Production Manager to lead product development and drive profitable growth across our sauces and condiments range.

You will own the product roadmap from idea to shelf, analyse market and customer needs, manage launches, pricing, packaging and lifecycle strategies, and collaborate with suppliers, operations and marketing to deliver on aggressive growth targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Product Management, Food Science or related field.
• 3–5 years’ experience in Product Management, Brand Management or FMCG.
• Experience in food, beverage, retail or consumer goods will be advantageous.
• Strong commercial and analytical ability.
• Proven experience managing product launches and go-to-market strategies.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop the product roadmap, from big ideas to products on the shelf.
• Keep an eye on market trends, customer needs and competitor activity to identify new opportunities.
• Drive new product development from concept through to launch.
• Manage product positioning, pricing, packaging and lifecycle strategies.
• Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturers, packaging partners and internal teams to get products launch-ready.
• Make sure products meet quality, compliance and food safety standards.
• Analyse sales, margins, profitability and product performance and turn the numbers into actionable insights.
• Work with Operations and Supply Chain on forecasting and inventory planning.
• Support retail listings, launches and promotional campaigns.
• Listen to customer feedback and turn it into better products and experiences.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations and Finance to keep everyone moving in the same direction.
• Present product performance, opportunities and recommendations to leadership.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and other external partners.
• Bring fresh ideas and innovation to the product portfolio.

Skills

Commercial mindset

Analytical ability

Strategic thinking

Communication & stakeholder management

Creativity & innovation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Product Management, Food Science or related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

Production Manager

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | Posted on 02/10/2026

We’re looking for a commercially minded Product Manager to join a growing South African food brand that’s all about bold flavours, quality products, and creating sauces and condiments customers genuinely love.

If you’re someone who can spot a market opportunity, turn an idea into a product, and then make sure it performs commercially, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own and develop the product roadmap, from big ideas to products on the shelf.
• Keep an eye on market trends, customer needs and competitor activity to identify new opportunities.
• Drive new product development from concept through to launch.
• Manage product positioning, pricing, packaging and lifecycle strategies.
• Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturers, packaging partners and internal teams to get products launch-ready.
• Make sure products meet quality, compliance and food safety standards.
• Analyse sales, margins, profitability and product performance and turn the numbers into actionable insights.
• Work with Operations and Supply Chain on forecasting and inventory planning.
• Support retail listings, launches and promotional campaigns.
• Listen to customer feedback and turn it into better products and experiences.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Operations and Finance to keep everyone moving in the same direction.
• Present product performance, opportunities and recommendations to leadership.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and other external partners.
• Bring fresh ideas and innovation to the product portfolio.

What Success Looks Like

You’ll be measured by your ability to:

• Deliver successful product launches on time and within budget.
• Grow revenue and margins across the product portfolio.
• Drive product performance and customer adoption.
• Keep a strong innovation pipeline moving.
• Improve customer satisfaction and retention.
• Manage the product lifecycle efficiently from idea to launch to growth.
  

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Product Management, Food Science or a related field.
• 3–5 years’ experience in Product Management, Brand Management or FMCG.
• Experience in food, beverage, retail or consumer goods will be advantageous.
• Strong commercial and analytical ability.
• Proven experience managing product launches and go-to-market strategies.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A strategic thinker who can also get stuck into the detail.
• A customer-focused, commercially aware and solutions-driven mindset.
• Someone who brings creativity, innovation and energy to the table.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.