Regional Operations Manager

Brambles; Kraaifontein; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Work Model

Job summary

Brambles in South Africa seeks a Regional Operations leader to deliver safe, efficient, cost-effective, and customer-focused performance across multiple plants. You will drive operational excellence, develop high-performing teams, and ensure achievement of business and strategic objectives.

You will lead regional strategy, cost management, and supplier/stakeholder engagement, while championing a zero-harm culture and continuous improvement across the operation.

Qualifications

• BSc/B Tech Engineering degree required.
• Experience in production/operations management and/or supply chain.
• Experience in large-scale manufacturing/operational environments.
• At least 5 years in senior management leading teams.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience implementing world-class manufacturing tools such as Lean, TPM and Six Sigma.

Responsibilities

• Ensure regional operations comply with health, safety and quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Drive customer satisfaction by meeting service and quality standards and pushing for operational excellence.
• Provide leadership and resources to plant management to deliver KPIs and business goals.
• Continuously improve productivity, cost management, product quality and sustainability.
• Lead cost-saving initiatives and analyze regional cost trends for budget alignment.
• Develop and execute regional supply chain strategy with cross-functional teams.
• Mentor plant leadership and build high-performing teams.

Skills

People Management

Computer literacy

Operational

Production

Commercial

Six Sigma

LEAN

Operational Metrics

Education

BSc/B Tech Engineering

Tools

Lean

TPM

Six Sigma

Job description

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.

What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Ensure all operational activities within the region fully comply with health, safety, and quality standards, as well as operational procedures to drive regulatory adherence and risk mitigation.
• Drive customer satisfaction by ensuring plants consistently meet service and quality standards, and foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure plants have the appropriate resources and focus to consistently deliver on KPIs, meeting customer satisfaction and operational goals.
• Continuously improve operational performance in key areas such as health and safety, cost management, product quality, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.
• Analyze and track regional cost trends, identifying opportunities for cost efficiency and ensuring that financial performance aligns with budget targets.
• Lead and implement cost-saving initiatives by recommending, analyzing, and executing efficiency improvements across the region.
• Actively contribute to the development and execution of the regional supply chain strategy, working closely with cross-functional teams to drive operational consistency and improvement.
• Lead and mentor plant management teams, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, fostering a collaborative work environment, and supporting professional development.

Position Purpose

Lead and manage regional operations to deliver safe, efficient, cost-effective, and customer-focused performance. Drive operational excellence across multiple plants, develop high-performing teams, and ensure the achievement of business, financial, and strategic objectives.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute regional operational strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Contribute to the development of supply chain and operational strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement, productivity, and operational excellence initiatives.

Team and People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop Regional Operations and Plant Leadership teams to build a high-performance culture.
• Create an environment of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Develop talent pipelines, succession plans, and workforce capabilities to meet current and future business needs.
• Drive performance management processes that enable clear objectives, regular feedback, and high levels of employee performance.
• Lead employee and industrial relations activities, maintaining constructive relationships with employees, unions, and employee representatives.
• Build empowered frontline teams with clear ownership for safety, quality, service, cost, and operational performance.

Safety, Risk & Compliance

• Champion a Zero Harm culture and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Fulfil legal health and safety responsibilities, including statutory accountability.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, labour legislation, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain effective risk, security, and asset management controls.

Operations Management

• Lead the performance of multiple plants and service centres within the region.
• Strong focus on productivity improvements through engineering and maintenance best practise
• Ensure the efficient management of plant operations, maintenance, quality, and engineering.
• Ensure customer requirements are consistently met through reliable operational performance.
• Lead the implementation of operational excellence best practises through effective change management

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the regional operating budget.
• Control operational costs and manage budget variances.
• Ensure optimal availability and utilisation of hire equipment, raw materials, and assets.
• Evaluate and manage capital investment projects to support future growth and efficiency.

Industrial Relations

• Maintain constructive relationships with employees, trade unions, and employee representatives.
• Lead labour negotiations and manage industrial relations matters.
• Ensure discipline, grievance, and employee relations processes are fairly and consistently applied.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships.
• Ensure procurement practices support operational requirements and best practice standards.
• Engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve business objectives.

Customer Service Excellence

• Ensure operational performance consistently meets customer expectations.
• Drive improvements in service, quality, and responsiveness.
• Support the development of solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and operational performance.

Asset & Infrastructure Management

• Ensure effective maintenance and utilisation of plant equipment and facilities.
• Identify and support new facility and property development opportunities.
• Protect and optimise company assets across the region.

Key Requirements

• BSc/B Tech Engineering
• Production / Operations Management/Supply Chain
• Experience gained in large scale manufacturing/operational environment·
• At least 5 years at senior management level leading teams·
• Strong Commercial and financial acumen·
• Experience in implementing world class manufacturing tools and techniques like Lean, TPM, Six Sigma

Skills and Knowledge

• People Management
• Computer literacy
• Operational
• Production
• Commercial
• Six Sigma
• LEAN
• Operational Metrics

Remote Type

Not Remote

Skills to succeed in the role

Change Leadership, Coaching, Collaboration, Disruptive Thinking, Feedback, Inclusive Leadership, Leading Customer Centric Teams, Mentorship, Motivating Teams, Prioritization, Self-Awareness

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.