Senior Production Manager

Persona Staff; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Persona Staff (PTY) Ltd is seeking a seasoned manufacturing leader to take full accountability for factory operations, performance, and output. You will translate demand into structured production plans, manage WIP, and drive throughput across multi-stage environments.

You will lead large teams, engage with EXCO, manage costing, pricing, budgeting, and capital expenditure while delivering monthly reports to Head Office.

Qualifications

• Senior manufacturing leadership or general management experience.
• Background in multi-stage manufacturing (fabrication, processing, finishing environments).
• Experience with costing, BOMs, and pricing within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating at EXCO or senior leadership level.
• Proven ability to drive operational improvements and reduce inefficiencies.

Responsibilities

• Own factory operations and drive performance and output.
• Translate demand into structured production plans and ensure consistent execution.
• Manage production flow, batch control, and WIP across departments.
• Drive throughput, reduce bottlenecks, and improve operational efficiency.
• Sit on EXCO and contribute to strategic business decisions.
• Engage directly with customers regarding manufacturing contracts and delivery expectations.
• Oversee costing, BOMs, and product pricing.
• Set and manage production targets, monitoring team performance against KPIs.
• Implement KPI structures for supervisors and production teams.
• Lead and manage all factory staff, including wage reviews and increases.
• Develop and manage sales budgets and capital expenditure planning.
• Deliver monthly reporting to Head Office with direct reporting to the CEO.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve productivity, and optimise headcount.
• Implement Lean principles and build a high-performance culture.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety regulations and standards.
• Oversee equipment reliability and maintenance planning.

Skills

Leadership

Lean

Process-driven

EXCO exposure

Costing & pricing

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for factory operations, performance, and output
• Translate demand into structured production plans and ensure consistent execution
• Manage production flow, batch control, and WIP across departments
• Drive throughput, reduce bottlenecks, and improve operational efficiency
• Sit on EXCO and contribute to strategic business decisions
• Engage directly with customers regarding manufacturing contracts and delivery expectations
• Oversee costing, BOMs, and product pricing
• Set and manage production targets, monitoring team performance against KPIs
• Implement KPI structures for supervisors and production teams
• Lead and manage all factory staff, including wage reviews and increases
• Develop and manage sales budgets and capital expenditure planning
• Deliver monthly reporting to Head Office with direct reporting to the CEO
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve productivity, and optimise headcount
• Implement Lean principles and build a high-performance culture
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety regulations and standards
• Oversee equipment reliability and maintenance planning

Requirements

• Relevant degree (essential)
• Proven experience in a senior manufacturing leadership or General Management role
• Strong background in multi-stage manufacturing (fabrication, processing, finishing environments)
• Demonstrated experience managing full factory operations, including commercial and financial aspects
• Strong understanding of costing, BOMs, and pricing within a manufacturing environment
• Experience operating at EXCO or senior leadership level
• Proven ability to drive operational improvements and reduce inefficiencies
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing large teams
• Hands‑on, structured, and highly process‑driven approach

Persona Staff (PTY) Ltd is POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013) compliant.