Team Leader/Production Planner

Sealed Air; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Sealed Air in Cape Town is seeking a production supervisor to manage the floor and shift staff, ensuring products meet quality standards and specifications.

You will monitor machines, plan change-overs, reduce waste, and support problem-solving across the line while maintaining safety and PPE compliance.

Ideal candidates bring strong communication, leadership and hands-on technical aptitude, with experience in a packaging manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Matric/technical high school is required or equivalent.
• Experience in a BRC IoP manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience leading a packaging team is advantageous.
• Strong communication and problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Production floor and equipment to meet targets per plan.
• Plan change-overs to minimise idle time and waste.
• Manage waste levels and inspect raw materials.
• Troubleshoot product or process issues as they arise.
• Ensure staff follow instructions on machine settings and specifications.
• Verify first-off QC samples per shift and record measurements.
• Maintain quality checks on materials and runs per master plan.
• Ensure PPE usage and safety compliance on the line.
• Train staff and manage performance; handle shift handovers.
• Support routine maintenance and complete job cards.

Skills

Staff management

Communication

Quality focus

Pressure handling

Technical aptitude

Safety compliance

Team leadership

Education

Matric / Technical high school

Job description

Sealed Air designs and delivers packaging solutions that protect essential goods transported worldwide, preserve food, enable e-commerce and digital connectivity, and help create a global supply chain that is touchless, safer, less wasteful, and more resilient. We strive to foster a caring, high-performance growth culture that will deliver consistent, sustainable profitable growth and accelerate our performance – a culture where accountability is clear and aligned, and where we reward business outcomes and impact. That culture guides everything we do, including how we partner with our customers and suppliers, how we attract and retain top talent, and how we create and deliver value to our stakeholders. In 2025, Sealed Air generated $5.4 billion in sales and has approximately 16,100 employees who serve customers in 119 countries/territories. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com .

Job Purpose

• To manage the Production floor and shift staff to ensure that the product produced consistently conforms to required specifications and quality standards.
• To continuously monitor all machines, inspect all products and adjust machine settings as and when necessary to ensure a stable production process and quality product.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee and control the Production floor and equipment to meet specified production targets as per the production plan.
• Plan job change-overs to ensure minimum idle time between jobs minimise waste, down time and increase efficiency.
• Manage the levels of waste and ensure all raw materials are inspected
• Assist and solve problems or trouble shoot any product or process related issue
• Flag all non-conforming products correctly according to laid down procedure
• Ensure that staff follows laid down instructions as they relate to machine settings, raw materials, product specifications and customer requirements as per the procedure.
• Assume responsibility and accountability for meeting the expectations of the Production schedule according to the Production plan.
• Check and verify the first off QC check sample per shift and check that the measurements are recorded on the production sheet.
• Assume accountability and responsibility for the effective carrying out of quality checks on all materials used and products run on the shift, according to the Quality
• Inspection plan and control checks in the master folder.
• Ensure constant monitoring of product and process quality during the production run.
• Provide assistance to the operators running the machine when necessary to keep production going.
• Report and record any difficulties or quality problems experience during the shift to the assistant production manager.
• Check availability of master folders at the beginning of the shift and ensure all information is correct and up to date.
• Ensure that the production sheets are completed accurately and timeously
• Complete NCA forms for all non-conforming product and raw materials
• Plan change-overs between jobs ahead of time to ensure minimum idle time during a changeover
• Maintain and care for assets and tools including
• Monitor, assist with and ensure that housekeeping (daily, weekly, monthly or annually) is done according to BRC IoP requirements in your area as well as aligning to all HACCP and OHS requirements.
• Oversee and ensure that all production staff wear the correct PPE in line with BRC quality standards.
• Ensure that all consumables are stocked up for each shift and are on hand for the Operators
• Help and assist during routine maintenance or breakdowns on the machine as and when required and ensure that job cards are completed per job.
• Carry out other reasonable and lawful assignments as requested by Management.
• Ensure that all staff are properly trained on all aspects of machine functioning and safety compliance and that the required training records and registers are completed, updates and signed – training should include the completion of documentation, master folders, the management of waste, and all operational aspects to the machine
• Oversee and manage the staff, ensuring that the shifts are staffed correctly
• Ensure that the correct hand over and changeover is carried out between shifts.
• Identify and manage any training needs in team members and implement accordingly and appropriately.

Skills & Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills and confidence to communicate across levels
• High levels of accuracy.
• Technical or mechanical aptitude
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to think for oneself and raise questions if in doubt
• Physical strength required
• Able to manage staff and performance
• Matric / Technical high school qualification.
• Worked in a BRC IoP accredited manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience in Flexible packaging will be an advantage
• Previous and proven experience in managing a team.

Sealed Air is committed to attracting, selecting, and developing talent that reflects the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. We take pride in our selection process to identify, infuse, and grow talent to align with our culture, values, and norms. Sealed Air prioritizes talent development, fostering a culture of continuous growth and career progression. The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees, without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

It is our responsibility to leverage what we have to affect positive and meaningful change for our communities and planet using Sealed Air's global resources and expertise.

Corporate sustainability -it’s about improving the lives of people around the world by addressing pressing needs in the communities where we and our customers operate.

Customer Success -meeting our customers' needs. At Sealed Air it’s more than a goal, it’s an integral part of our business practices, our innovative solutions, and our values.

Leaving our communities better than we found them through dedication of time, talent and resources.