Production Manager - Dairy

EnableSA; East London; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company seeks an experienced Production Manager for their East London operations. You will oversee all filling line operations in dairy production, ensuring adherence to efficiency, safety, and quality standards. Responsibilities include managing a team of operators, optimizing processes, and ensuring compliance with HACCP and GMP standards. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in food manufacturing, strong leadership skills, and a sound understanding of food safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years’ 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.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of filling lines for dairy products.
• Ensure adherence to production schedules and efficiency targets.
• Monitor KPIs such as line efficiency and waste.
• Enforce food safety, HACCP, and GMP compliance.
• Lead and develop a team of operators.
• Collaborate with Quality and Maintenance teams.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

Process Optimization

HACCP Knowledge

GMP Compliance

Computer Literate

Education

Diploma/Degree in Food Technology, Engineering, or Production/Operations Management

Grade 12

Tools

Packaging Equipment

Excel

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced Production Manager to join the East London team, as Production Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing all filling line operations, ensuring efficiency, safety, and quality standards are met. You will manage a team of operators and technicians, optimize filling processes, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver on production goals.

• Manage daily operations of filling lines for milk, yoghurt, juices, and other dairy products.
• Ensure adherence to production schedules and efficiency targets.
• Monitor KPIs such as line efficiency, downtime, yield, and waste.
• Enforce food safety, HACCP, and GMP compliance at all times.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of operators and team/line‑leaders.
• Collaborate with Quality and Maintenance teams to optimize operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve performance.

Requirements

• Grade 12
• Diploma/Degree in Food Technology, Engineering, or Production/Operations Management. Equivalent experience will be considered in the absence of qualification.
• Minimum5+ years’ experience in filling/packaging within dairy or food manufacturing, with at least 3 years 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