6 Dairy Industry jobs in South Africa

Join a people- and values-focused leader in the food industry Manage end-to-end production operations with efficiency, ensuring staff thrive, lines run smoothly, and every product meets top quality and safety standards.

Salary

The proposed salary for the role is around R30k p/m. The offer to the successful candidate will be determined based on relevant qualifications, skills and experience.

Key Requirements

• Diploma in Food Manufacturing or similar.
• 8 - 10 years' relevant experience.
• Fluency in English and Afrikaans
• Reliable transport
• Work overtime when required
• Non-smoker

Core Experience Needed

• Experience in a Manufacturing Plant/Food industry.
• Supervising and managing teams in a production setting.
• Executing production planning and adapting to daily manufacturing changes.
• Exposure to factory operations, stock control, and shift coordination.
• Working knowledge of quality and safety audits, documentation control, and compliance.
• Problem-solving in a fast-paced, high-pressure production environment.
• Understanding of production flows and operational bottlenecks
• Understanding of food safety requirements

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Computer Literacy
• ERP systems (preferably SAGE Evolution)

Key Responsibilities

For the sake of brevity and easy reading, only a summary of the full job duties is provided below. Additional information and full details regarding the position and potential employer will be provided following our initial contact and the CV review.

• Production Operations Management (55%)
• Production Planning & Resource Coordination (20%)
• HR Administration & Support (10%)
• Team Management (10%)
• Operational Support (5%)

• Diploma in Food Manufacturing or similar.
• 8 - 10 years' relevant experience.
• Fluency in English and Afrikaans
• Reliable transport
• Work overtime when required
• Non-smoker

• Experience in a Manufacturing Plant/Food industry.
• Supervising and managing teams in a production setting.
• Executing production planning and adapting to daily manufacturing changes.
• Exposure to factory operations, stock control, and shift coordination.
• Working knowledge of quality and safety audits, documentation control, and compliance.
• Problem-solving in a fast-paced, high-pressure production environment.
• Understanding of production flows and operational bottlenecks
• Understanding of food safety requirements

• Computer Literacy
• ERP systems (preferably SAGE Evolution)

• Production Operations Management (55%)
• Production Planning & Resource Coordination (20%)
• HR Administration & Support (10%)
• Team Management (10%)
• Operational Support (5%)

We're seeking a highly organized and experienced Production Manager to lead operations in our food production facility. This role is critical to ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality manufacturing of food products while maintaining compliance with industry standards

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily production activities to meet output, quality, and safety targets
• Plan and manage production schedules, staffing, and resource allocation
• Monitor and optimize workflow, equipment performance, and material usage
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations (HACCP, GMP, ISO, etc.)
• Lead and train production staff, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Collaborate with R&D, quality assurance, and logistics teams to streamline operations
• Maintain accurate production records and generate performance reports
• Troubleshoot operational issues and implement corrective actions
• Manage inventory levels and coordinate with procurement for raw materials
• Enforce hygiene, health, and safety protocols across the facility

Requirements

Education & Experience:

• Diploma or Degree in Food Technology, Industrial Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in a food manufacturing or processing environment
• Proven leadership experience in managing production teams

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong understanding of food safety standards and regulatory compliance
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams
• Proficiency in production planning software and Microsoft Office
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Bonus Skills (Not Required):

• Experience with automation or lean manufacturing principles
• Familiarity with allergen control and traceability systems
• Exposure to export or retail food product standards

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person

Operations & Production Manager - Interim

Artisanal Food Brand

Cape Town | Type: Part-time (with pathway to full-time)

AVAILABLE NOW

Salary: R10 000/month on 3 days/week basis

PLEASE READ: we will not review applications that do not check the following: Women hire - available immediately - 3 year Food sector experience - own & drive car

Leo's Little Jars is a fast-growing artisanal jam company, proudly handmade in Cape Town.

We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Operations & Production Manager to join our team as the right-hand to the founder. This is not a corporate desk job; it's a hands-on, dynamic role where your love for food, people, and detail come together.

The Role

This is a unique opportunity to step into a leadership role in a growing artisanal food brand.

Our ops manager is currently away. We're therefore looking for someone who can join immediately on a part-time basis (3 days/week) to oversee production and operations.

About us: We're a small but mighty, fully women-run team, creating jams that are bold, joyful, and made with care.

• Our founder, Léonore ("Léo"), is French (so yes, there's always a touch of Parisian accent in our kitchen (and occasionally croissants for breakfast)).
• We believe in sustainability, ethics, and empowerment: from the way we source fruit, to the way we treat our team, to the joy we want every jar to bring.
• Our workspace is lively, collaborative, and supportive. We take our craft seriously, but we also laugh a lot, celebrate each season's fruit, and value each person's contribution.

If you're looking for a role where your work has meaning, your ideas are heard, and you're part of a team with heart, you'll feel at home with us. Allez, let's chat

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production & Quality

• Oversee daily kitchen operations to ensure output, quality, and consistency.
• Monitor and uphold food safety and hygiene protocols.
• Plan and manage production schedules according to seasonality of fruit.
• Maintain close attention to detail across recipes, labeling, and final product quality.
• Support with new product development.

Operations & Procurement

• Manage procurement of fruit, jars, and supplies; liaise with suppliers.
• Track stock and inventory, ensuring accurate records in Excel and accounting systems.
• Coordinate market refills and occasional deliveries.
• Optimize workflow, resources, and costs

Team Leadership

• Motivate, guide, and uplift a growing team of women.
• Foster a culture of fairness, accountability, and growth.
• Provide training and feedback while ensuring high performance standards.

Client & Brand Engagement

• Occasionally represent the brand at weekend markets (selling directly to customers).
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and clients.
• Support the founder with ideas and initiatives to grow the business.
• Right Hand to the Founder
• Support the founder with initiatives to grow the business.
• Not just "ticking the to-do list" but bringing ideas and solutions.
• Be ready to step up and take the reins if needed.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Culinary / food production / hospitality background mandatory.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in food production, hospitality, or operations.
• Proven experience leading or supervising small teams.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Detail-oriented, accurate, and comfortable with Excel and digital systems.
• Comfortable with high pressure seasonality
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to motivate and manage staff with kindness and firmness.
• Problem-solving mindset and initiative to improve processes.
• Valid driver's license and own car (essential).

WHAT WE OFFER

• Salary: R10 000 month
• Flexible working hours: 3 days per week - Mon, Wed, Fri, 8am–5.30pm (with occasional additional weekend market work).
• A role where you're not just an employee, but a key part of the brand's growth.
• A positive, creative, women-led workplace.

How to Apply

Send your CV + a short cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit to

Job Types: Part-time, Temp to perm, Learnership

Contract length: 6 months

Pay: R10 000,00 per month

Expected hours: 30 per week

Application Question(s):

• Are you available immediately ?

Experience:

• management : 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Drivers License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Employer Description

Our Client is a Food Manufacturing company based in the greater area of Pretoria

Job Description

Our client has an opportunity for an energetic candidate to join their company in the capacity of a Production Planner. The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Develop recommendations and subsequent action plans to enable the delivery of the departmental strategy.
• Monitor and track against the plan
• Day to day interaction with team members to deliver strategy
• Build and develop effective relationships with relevant stakeholders to highlight and determine best solution to overcome challenges to continuously improve
• Contribute to delivering strategic plans with suppliers by liaising regularly on trend changes and tactical forecasting.
• Conduct stock build plans considering capacity raw materials supply etc
• Identify challenges, trends and opportunities
• Maintain Data and Systems
• Issuing daily plans/schedules for all production units.
• Other related duties

Qualifications

• Matriculation
• Degree in Industrial Engineering or BCom in Supply Chain or relevant BCom Degree

Skills

• 2-3 years experience in Production Planning
• FMCG experience will be advantageous
• Strong Mathematical & Analytical skills