Strategic Production Head

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

Job summary

A manufacturing company is seeking a Strategic Production Head to lead its production operations. This role involves overseeing production planning, operational leadership, and integrating business intelligence into factory processes. Candidates should have at least 8 years of production management experience and a relevant bachelor's degree, alongside strong leadership and data analysis skills.

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 SAP for production planning and inventory control.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of the company’s production operations.
• Develop and maintain a rolling production forecast aligned with business targets.
• Collaborate with executive management on operational strategy.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Multi-tasking

Education

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

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Specification – Strategic Production Head

Location : Woodstock

Reports To : Executive Management

Direct Reports : Production Operations Manager

Role Purpose

The Strategic Production Head will provide 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 production forecast , aligned with sales and operational targets.

Ensure a minimum of 4 weeks’ 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, who will report directly to this role.

Oversee production line teams, ensuring productivity, safety, and quality standards are consistently met.

Implement performance metrics and monitor progress against operational KPIs.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Align Business Intelligence (BI) reporting with factory operations to drive performance and cost efficiency.

Prepare and present accurate operational reports to executive management, with actionable insights.

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.