Managing Director

Production Manager – Biscuit Manufacturing

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng

Employment type: Permanent, full-time

Industry: Food manufacturing / FMCG

Reporting to: Factory Manager / Operations Manager

Shift pattern: Alternating weekly day and night shifts

Position summary

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Production Manager to manage biscuit-production operations at our Johannesburg factory.

The successful candidate will be responsible for achieving production targets safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards. The role requires alternating between day and night shifts: one week on day shift, followed by one week on night shift, according to the factory roster.

This is a factory-floor leadership role suited to someone comfortable managing people, processes and equipment in a fast-paced, high-volume food-manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities

Production management

- Manage daily biscuit-production activities across mixing, forming, baking, cooling and packaging.

- Ensure production plans, volumes and customer requirements are achieved.

- Monitor production output, line speeds, yields, downtime and overall equipment effectiveness.

- Allocate employees and resources effectively across production lines.

- Conduct shift handovers and communicate outstanding issues to the incoming team.

- Respond promptly to production disruptions, equipment failures and material shortages.

- Coordinate product changeovers, start-ups, shutdowns and cleaning activities.

- Ensure raw materials, packaging and labour are available for scheduled production.

People leadership

- Lead shift supervisors, team leaders, operators and general production employees.

- Set clear daily targets and hold teams accountable for performance.

- Manage attendance, timekeeping, overtime and shift allocation.

- Coach and develop supervisors and production employees.

- Conduct performance discussions and support disciplinary processes when necessary.

- Promote teamwork, accountability and effective communication across shifts.

- Ensure night-shift employees receive the same level of leadership and operational support as the day-shift team.

Quality and food safety

- Ensure compliance with approved recipes, specifications and operating procedures.

- Maintain strict hygiene, housekeeping and food-safety standards.

- Enforce allergen controls, traceability and contamination-prevention procedures.

- Ensure compliance with HACCP and applicable FSSC 22000, BRCGS or other certification requirements.

- Investigate quality deviations, customer complaints and non-conforming products.

- Work closely with Quality Assurance to implement corrective and preventive actions.

- Ensure production and food-safety records are accurate and completed on time.

Performance and continuous improvement

- Monitor and improve OEE, productivity, yield and labour efficiency.

- Reduce waste, rework, giveaway, downtime and production losses.

- Investigate recurring problems and conduct root-cause analysis.

- Implement practical corrective actions and continuous-improvement initiatives.

- Analyse production results and prepare daily, weekly and monthly reports.

- Participate in production, maintenance, quality and planning meetings.

Maintenance and safety

- Coordinate with the maintenance team to minimise breakdowns and downtime.

- Report equipment defects and ensure corrective work is followed through.

- Support preventive-maintenance planning and safe equipment handovers.

- Enforce occupational health and safety requirements.

- Ensure employees use the required personal protective equipment.

- Report and investigate incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions.

- Ensure emergency, lockout and safe-working procedures are followed.

Minimum requirements

- Relevant diploma or degree in Production Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Food Technology or a related field.

- At least five years’ production-management experience in food manufacturing or FMCG.

- Experience managing supervisors and production teams in a shift-based environment.

- Practical knowledge of high-volume production lines and automated packaging equipment.

- Working knowledge of HACCP and recognised food-safety management systems.

- Experience monitoring OEE, waste, yield, downtime and labour productivity.

- Computer literacy, including Microsoft Excel and production-reporting systems.

- Willingness and ability to alternate between weekly day and night shifts.

- Reliable transport appropriate for both day- and night-shift travel.

Preferred experience

- Previous biscuit, bakery, snack, cereal or confectionery manufacturing experience.

- Knowledge of industrial mixers, dough-forming equipment, tunnel ovens, cooling systems and packaging lines.

- Lean manufacturing, 5S or continuous-improvement experience.

- Experience with ERP or manufacturing-management systems.

Key competencies

- Strong factory-floor leadership

- Production planning and problem-solving

- Sound technical and mechanical awareness

- Decisive under operational pressure

- Effective communication and shift handovers

- Attention to quality and food safety

- Ability to manage conflict and employee performance

- Strong numerical and analytical ability

- Accountability and personal integrity

- Willingness to work hands-on across day and night operations

Shift requirement

This position operates on a rotating shift roster:

- One week on day shift

- One week on night shift

- The rotation continues according to the approved factory roster

- Weekend, public-holiday or overtime work may occasionally be required according to operational needs

Exact shift hours, rest periods and applicable allowances will be specified in the employment offer and managed in accordance with company policy and applicable employment requirements.

Performance measures

Performance will be assessed against:

- Production-plan achievement

- OEE and equipment utilisation

- Product yield and material waste

- Downtime and changeover performance

- Labour productivity and overtime control

- Quality compliance and customer complaints

- Food-safety and audit results

- Health and safety performance

- Employee attendance and team performance

- Completion of corrective and improvement actions

Application requirements

Applicants should submit an updated CV detailing:

- Food-manufacturing experience

- Production lines and equipment managed

- Size of teams managed

- Shift-management experience

- Food-safety certifications or training

- Current location and notice period

- Current and expected remuneration

Pay: R20 000,00 - R25 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person