TEAM LEADER – CHEESE PRODUCTION

Key Performance Areas:

• Lead, supervise, and coordinate up to 24 employees to ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, productivity targets, and workplace discipline.
• Oversee the operation of draining vats, cheese towers, and associated equipment to ensure efficient and uninterrupted cheese production.
• Monitor cheese production processes, including pH levels, salt addition, vacuum pressure, weight control, and recipe compliance to achieve product specifications.
• Ensure all cheese products are produced, handled, packed, and transferred according to quality, weight, traceability, and food safety requirements.
• 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 ensuring production targets are achieved.
• Promote a safe working environment through compliance with safety procedures, PPE requirements, incident reporting, and safety awareness initiatives.
• Monitor raw materials, packaging materials, and production resources to ensure product availability and minimize waste.
• Complete and sign off production, quality, hygiene, traceability, and ISO documentation accurately and on time.
• Conduct inspections of equipment, production areas, and sanitation activities to ensure operational readiness and compliance.
• Coordinate with the Cheesemaker, Laboratory, Warehouse, Planning, and Cold Storage departments to maintain product quality and production flow.
• Train, coach, and develop employees to ensure competency, compliance with SOPs, and continuous skills development.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Grade 12 / Matric and SP2 qualification with Nature of Milk.
• HACCP and Safety Training Certificate.
• Minimum of 1 years' experience in a cheese manufacturing environment.
• Previous supervisory experience overseeing teams in a production environment.
• Ability to supervise and coordinate up to 24 employees.
• Sound knowledge of cheese manufacturing processes, draining vats, cheese towers, and cheese production operations.
• Strong understanding of GMP, HACCP, ISO, Food Safety, Quality, and Hygiene requirements.
• Working knowledge of production equipment and machinery used within a cheese factory.
• Ability to monitor production performance, yields, waste, and product quality standards.
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills.
• Good planning, leadership, and people management skills.
• Ability to conduct employee training, coaching, and performance monitoring.
• Good communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the business.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to product quality and food safety.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced production environment.
• Computer literacy and accurate record-keeping skills will be advantageous.
• First Aid, Supervisory, Dairyman, and Chain Hoist Training will be advantageous.