Strategic Production Head

ABC Worldwide; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent manufacturing company seeks a Strategic Production Head to provide leadership and oversight of production operations. This role entails developing a comprehensive production plan, ensuring efficiency, and maintaining operational readiness. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and significant experience in production management, particularly in senior roles. Strong skills in data analysis, leadership, and communication are essential. The position is based in Woodstock, Western Cape, South Africa.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in production management within a manufacturing environment.
• At least 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven experience in production planning, reporting, and inventory control.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a 12-month rolling forecast aligned with sales and operational targets.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Production Operations Manager.
• Align BI reporting with factory operations.

Skills

Strategic thinking with a focus on operational efficiency

Strong leadership and team-building skills

Advanced data analysis and reporting skills

Excellent communication and stakeholder management

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-pressure environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Production Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Job description

Location

Woodstock

Reports To

Executive Management

Direct Reports

Production Operations Manager

Role Purpose

The Strategic Production Head provides high‑level leadership and oversight of the company’s production operations, ensuring that production planning, factory output, and operational efficiency align with business strategy. This role is accountable for maintaining a forward‑looking production plan, integrating business intelligence insights into factory operations, and ensuring the production line runs at optimal capacity.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Production Planning: develop and maintain a 12‑month rolling forecast aligned with sales and operational targets.
• Maintain a minimum of four weeks of active production line schedule at all times.
• Anticipate resource, raw material, and capacity needs to prevent downtime and maximise throughput.
• Operational Leadership: lead, mentor, and manage the Production Operations Manager; oversee production line teams; implement performance metrics and monitor progress against operational KPIs.
• Data‑Driven Decision Making: align BI reporting with factory operations; prepare and present accurate operational reports to executive management; analyse SAP production and inventory data to inform decision‑making and process improvements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: collaborate with executive management on operational strategy, capacity planning, and business priorities; act as a key liaison between production, procurement, sales, and logistics teams; participate in high‑level planning meetings to ensure operational readiness for seasonal and product changes.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Production Management, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or equivalent (preferred).
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in production management within a manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven experience in SAP for production planning, reporting, and inventory control.
• Strong track record in managing production teams and optimising line performance.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate BI tools into operational workflows.
• Experience in presenting to and working with executive leadership.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking with a focus on operational efficiency.
• Strong leadership and team‑building skills.
• Advanced data analysis and reporting skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high‑pressure environment.