Senior Production Manager

Headhunters; Kariega; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an experienced Senior Production Manager for a client in the automotive sector, located in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape. The ideal candidate will have a diploma or degree in Engineering, at least 5 years of industry experience, and strong leadership skills. Responsibilities include aligning departmental objectives with company vision, monitoring operations, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years industry related experience required.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Ensure departmental alignment with strategic objectives.
• Monitor operational targets regularly.
• Conduct evaluations on production goals.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Communication

Education

Diploma and/or Degree in Engineering/Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Our client in the Automotive Component Manufacturing Sector is seeking to employ an experienced Senior Production Manager to their team based in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape.

Requirements:

• Diploma and/or Degree in Engineering/Mechanical Engineering.
• 5+ years industry related experience.
• High level of leadership and decision making.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure departmental alignment with the strategic objectives and vision of the company.
• Monitor and record progress to achieve daily, weekly, and monthly operational targets.
• Conduct regular (weekly and monthly) evaluations to assess the achievement of production goals.
• Ensure that product quality consistently meets or exceeds Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Foster and maintain a culture of continuous improvement across all levels of the department.
• Effectively implement and sustain problem-solving initiatives that add measurable value to operations.
• Control and optimize plant costs in line with established KPIs and budget expectations.
• Promote and enforce consistent standards of discipline within the workforce.
• Drive training and development programs to enhance workforce skills and performance.
• Implement and manage an effective change-point management system to mitigate the impact of absenteeism and process changes.
• Ensure full compliance with Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) regulations, including proactive risk reduction and timely corrective actions for any incidents or hazards.
• Lead the development and embedding of a high-performance Daily Operating System (DOS) culture throughout the organization.

Leadership Expectations:

• Set a strong example through active engagement in:
  • DOS audits and structured process reviews.
  • Data-driven decision-making ("Managing by Facts").
  • Continuous improvement initiatives, including workshops.
  • Coaching and mentoring of team members.
  • Leading daily “Diamond” meetings to review performance and drive action.
  • Regularly reviewing KPI boards and taking corrective actions where necessary.
• Inspire and encourage team-wide participation in continuous improvement activities and operational excellence programs.

Please note that if you do not receive a response within two weeks of applying, you may consider your application unsuccessful.