Team Leader (Cheese Production)

Profile Personnel; Humansdorp; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Profile Personnel is seeking a strategic leader to oversee cheese production operations for a leading FMCG client in the Eastern Cape. You will direct a team, ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, and drive operational excellence in a dairy-focused facility.

You will manage equipment, monitor critical parameters, uphold HACCP/ISO/GMP standards, and collaborate with Cheesemaking, Laboratory, Warehouse and Planning teams to maintain high product quality and continuous production flow.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience supervising up to 24 employees.
• Strong cheese production knowledge with related equipment.
• Experience with HACCP, GMP and ISO standards in food manufacturing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to monitor production metrics and ensure quality.
• Experience in FMCG dairy preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and coordinate a team of up to 24 employees, ensuring adherence to company policies, productivity targets, and workplace discipline.
• Oversee the operation of draining vats, cheese towers, and associated equipment, guaranteeing efficient and uninterrupted cheese manufacturing.
• Monitor critical production parameters including pH, salt addition, vacuum pressure, weight, and recipe compliance to meet product specifications.
• Ensure all cheese products are produced, handled, packed, and transferred in accordance with quality, weight, traceability, and food safety standards.
• Maintain compliance with HACCP, ISO, GMP, hygiene, sanitation, and quality standards throughout the production process.
• Drive production efficiency by monitoring yields, controlling waste, reducing losses, and achieving set targets.
• Promote a safe working environment through the enforcement of safety procedures, PPE compliance, incident reporting, and safety awareness initiatives.
• Manage raw materials, packaging supplies, and resources to ensure continuous product availability and minimal waste.
• Complete and sign off on production, quality, hygiene, traceability, and ISO documentation accurately and punctually.
• Conduct equipment inspections and sanitation checks to ensure operational readiness.
• Collaborate with departments such as Cheesemaking, Laboratory, Warehouse, Planning, and Cold Storage to maintain high product quality and seamless production flow.
• Train, coach, and develop employees to ensure compliance with SOPs and foster continuous skills growth.

Job description

Our client, a leading player in the FMCG sector is seeking a strategic leader to oversee cheese production operations in the Eastern Cape. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a driven professional to influence production standards, uphold food safety regulations, and drive operational excellence in a facility committed to quality and safety.

What You'll Do:

• Lead, supervise, and coordinate a team of up to 24 employees, ensuring adherence to company policies, productivity targets, and workplace discipline.

• Oversee the operation of draining vats, cheese towers, and associated equipment, guaranteeing efficient and uninterrupted cheese manufacturing.

• Monitor critical production parameters including pH, salt addition, vacuum pressure, weight, and recipe compliance to meet product specifications.

• Ensure all cheese products are produced, handled, packed, and transferred in accordance with quality, weight, traceability, and food safety standards.

• Maintain compliance with HACCP, ISO, GMP, hygiene, sanitation, and quality standards throughout the production process.

• Drive production efficiency by monitoring yields, controlling waste, reducing losses, and achieving set targets.

• Promote a safe working environment through the enforcement of safety procedures, PPE compliance, incident reporting, and safety awareness initiatives.

• Manage raw materials, packaging supplies, and resources to ensure continuous product availability and minimal waste.

• Complete and sign off on production, quality, hygiene, traceability, and ISO documentation accurately and punctually.

• Conduct equipment inspections and sanitation checks to ensure operational readiness.

• Collaborate with departments such as Cheesemaking, Laboratory, Warehouse, Planning, and Cold Storage to maintain high product quality and seamless production flow.

• Train, coach, and develop employees to ensure compliance with SOPs and foster continuous skills growth.

Requirements:

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to supervise and develop a team.

• Strong understanding of cheese production processes and equipment.

• Knowledge of food safety management systems, including HACCP, GMP, ISO standards.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to monitor and control production metrics and ensure quality standards.

• Relevant experience in FMCG food production, preferably dairy.

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience in a similar leadership role within the dairy or cheese manufacturing industry.