Textile / Knitting Manager

Parvana; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A respected textile manufacturer in Cape Town seeks a Knitting Manager to oversee knitting operations, ensuring quality and compliance with safety regulations. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in a textile environment and strong leadership abilities to mentor teams and manage performance effectively. Responsibilities include planning, troubleshooting technical issues, and implementing lean manufacturing to enhance efficiency. Join a dynamic company focused on innovation and employee development.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a textile environment; mentoring others and leading teams.
• Strong understanding of knitting machinery, ISO standards, and lean principles.
• Experience with planning and organization under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate knitting operations to meet schedules and maximize efficiency.
• Ensure product quality and resolve defects through analysis.
• Lead and mentor staff, manage performance and shift handovers.
• Oversee maintenance schedules and troubleshoot technical issues.
• Implement lean manufacturing techniques to reduce costs.

Skills

Leadership and people management

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Communication

Technical troubleshooting

Education

Relevant technical qualification

Job description

About our client

It is a privilege for us to represent a company founded in the 18th century! They are stable, global, and internationally recognized for their brand. The client is ethical, well run, and continually improves and innovates, with the financial resources to employ and retain top talent. Their low staff turnover is driven by a strong focus on mentoring and hiring the right cultural fit, and they welcome aspirational candidates who want to be promoted, recognized, and have fun while earning money.

What you will be doing

• Plan, coordinate, and control knitting operations to meet schedules, maximize machine utilisation, and accurately report daily production data.
• Ensure knitted products meet all quality standards, identify and resolve defects through root‑cause analysis, and collaborate with the Quality Department on inspections and corrective actions.
• Lead, mentor, and supervise staff; conduct coaching and skills development; manage performance, discipline, absenteeism, and ensure effective shift handovers and correct manning levels.
• Oversee maintenance schedules, ensure machine calibration, troubleshoot technical issues, and approve machine upgrades/replacements in collaboration with the Maintenance Team.
• Monitor yarn usage and waste, implement lean manufacturing to reduce costs and improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with budgeted operational targets.
• Ensure knitting operations comply with OHSA and company safety requirements, conduct regular safety inspections, and enforce safe working practices and PPE use.
• Contribute to data‑driven decision‑making processes by sharing reports with metrics such as production output, efficiency, downtime, and quality issues; attend production meetings and communicate effectively with cross‑functional departments (planning, dyehouse, sewing, maintenance, HR).

What our client is looking for

• A relevant technical qualification – advantageous.
• 5+ years in a textile, preferably knitting, environment; mentoring others, leading teams, and previous reporting experience to business stakeholders beneficial.
• Strong understanding of knitting machinery (technical and mechanical), knowledge of ISO standards, lean principles, and workplace safety.
• Leadership and people management, technical troubleshooting, planning and organisation, problem solving, attention to detail, and communication.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.

Requirements

Knitting Manager, textiles, knitting, operations, quality, maintenance, lean manufacturing, OHSA, production data, leadership.