Production Manager Dairy

EnableSA (Pty) Ltd; East London; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dairy production company in Eastern Cape is seeking an experienced professional to manage filling line operations for milk, yoghurt, and juices. The ideal candidate should have a Grade 12 education and a diploma or degree in Food Technology Engineering, along with at least 5 years of relevant experience. Key responsibilities include overseeing production efficiency, managing teams, and ensuring adherence to food safety protocols. A strong understanding of filling and packaging processes is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in filling/packaging within dairy or food manufacturing.
• At least 3 years of proven leadership and supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of filling and packaging equipment.
• Solid understanding of HACCP, GMP and food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all filling line operations for dairy products, ensuring efficiency and quality.
• Manage daily operations including supervision of operators and technicians.
• Monitor key performance indicators like line efficiency and waste.
• Enforce food safety protocols and compliance with HACCP and GMP.
• Lead and develop a team, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Collaborate with Quality and Maintenance teams to optimize operations.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

5S

Operations Management

Production Planning

Production Management

Kaizen

Supervising Experience

Manufacturing

Education

Grade 12 Diploma/Degree in Food Technology Engineering

Production/Operations Management

Job description

Responsibilities

• Oversee all filling line operations for milk, yoghurt, juices and other dairy products, ensuring efficiency, safety and quality standards are consistently met.
• Manage the daily operations of filling lines, including supervision of operators and technicians.
• Ensure adherence to production schedules and efficiency targets across all lines.
• Monitor key performance indicators such as line efficiency, downtime, yield and waste.
• Enforce food safety protocols, including HACCP and GMP compliance, at all times.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of operators and team/line‑leaders, fostering a high‑performance culture.
• Collaborate closely with Quality and Maintenance teams to optimize operations and reduce downtime.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve performance and implement best practices.

Requirements

• Grade 12 education. Diploma/Degree in Food Technology Engineering or Production/Operations Management preferred; equivalent experience acceptable.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in filling/packaging within dairy or food manufacturing, with at least 3 years of proven leadership and supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of filling and packaging equipment.
• Solid understanding of HACCP, GMP and food safety standards.
• Computer literate with intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
• Required Skills: Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, 5S, Operations Management, Production Planning, Production Management, Kaizen, Supervising Experience, and Manufacturing.

Required Skills:

Grade 12 Diploma/Degree in Food Technology Engineering or Production/Operations Management (equivalent experience considered). Minimum 5 years experience in filling/packaging in dairy or food manufacturing, with 3+ years of leadership and supervisory experience. Strong knowledge of filling and packaging equipment, HACCP, GMP, and food safety standards. Computer literate with intermediate to advanced Excel skills.

Required Education:

Grade 12 Diploma/Degree in Food Technology Engineering or Production/Operations Management (equivalent experience considered).

Key Skills

• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma
• Continuous Improvement
• Lean
• Management Experience
• 5S
• Operations Management
• Production Planning
• Production Management
• Kaizen
• Supervising Experience
• Manufacturing

Employment Type: Full Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1