13 Manufacturing Plant jobs in South Africa

• Responsible for Managing Maintenance Team.
• Responsible for upkeeping of Assets Care Shopware module ensuring machine availability per requirement.
• Responsible engineer on site as per GMR 2 requirements.
• Develop and implement maintenance and preventative plans in the area of responsibility.
• Maximize uptime of all machinery.
• Firmness and hands-on management approach.
• Planning of daily, weekly, monthly maintenance with production.
• Ensure a high standard of housekeeping.
• Assist with breakdowns and after hours call outs.
• Ensure operation effectiveness of all machinery in the area of responsibility.
• Administration Functions.
• Responsible for Health and Safety in area of responsibility.
• Ensure GMP’s are adhered to.
• Keep Management team up to date with day-to-day occurrence which will influence business performance.
• Participate and support Company’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Report all problems with regards to Food Safety to the QA Manager who will initiate and records actions.
• Draw up and manage Maintenance Budget.
• Management of Capital Expenditure projects (CAPEX).

• Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Degree or equivalent.
• Government certificate of competency.
• 7 years' industry experience of which at least 5 years are in a managerial/supervisory role.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Track record of production process improvements.
• Experience in PLC equipment drives and automation.
• Experience in refrigeration ammonia plant will be an advantage.
• Electrical problem-solving experience.
• Must have production process experience.
• Good experience of Scheduled, predictive and preventative maintenance.
• Administrative Skills.
• Basic Training in Food Safety Management Systems including FSSC 22000.
• Knowledge of Boiler Maintenance.
• MS Office.
• Willing to work weekends and Public Holidays when required.
• Strong knowledge of Environmental, Health and Safety.
• Project management (CAPEX) experience will be an advantage.

• Professional, enthusiastic, hardworking, well-organized, and able to prioritize.
• Able to work with others and willing to contribute to team.
• Strong Leadership abilities and upkeeping of team morale.
• Strong personality with a high sense of discipline and organizational skills.
• A good track record in the food industry.
• An assertive, team-spirited, proactive and hands-on approach.
• Good understanding of products produced by RFG Foods.
• Good Communication.

• Lead daily operations across assigned production areas, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are met or exceeded.
• Develop and manage high-performing teams, instilling accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement culture.
• Oversee production planning, resource allocation, and capacity management to support short- and long-term business goals.
• Drive and support Lean initiatives including Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, and Continuous Improvement to increase operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with engineering and quality teams to identify root causes of issues and implement robust corrective actions.
• Analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) including unit hour performance, quality metrics, and budget adherence to identify trends and improvement areas.
• Facilitate communication and alignment between shifts, departments, and senior leadership to ensure smooth operational execution.
• Lead initiatives that enhance workplace safety and comply with environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Champion change management processes and lead teams through transformational projects with resilience and engagement.
• Oversee and continuously improve plant infrastructure including facilities, equipment, utilities, layout design, and maintenance programs to ensure operational reliability and readiness.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. regulatory standards including OSHA, EPA, and local building and environmental codes.
• Lead production system improvements, including MES and ERP integration for enhanced scheduling, tracking, and operational visibility.
• Manage preparation and ramp-up for new production lines, vehicle model changes, or capacity expansions as part of ongoing plant growth.
• Coordinate with internal logistics teams to ensure effective dock-to-dock material flow and outbound shipment readiness.
• Monitor and improve advanced manufacturing KPIs such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), First Pass Yield (FPY), and On-Time Delivery (OTD).
• Support workforce planning and development initiatives to ensure the availability of skilled labour across all shifts and production units.

• Bachelors degree in manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or Operations Management (or equivalent qualification).
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience in manufacturing or operations in a complex production environment.
• Proven success in applying Lean Manufacturing methodologies such as Just-in-Time, Flow, Visual Management, and Total Productive Maintenance.
• Solid experience in capacity and capability planning for short- and long-term operations.
• Demonstrated financial acumen related to cost centre management and budget control.
• Strong ability to motivate, develop, and manage multidisciplinary teams in a production setting.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Fluent in English, with exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, capable of engaging confidently across technical and executive audiences.
• South African citizenship.

Brief Role Description

The core purpose of this position is to conduct project feasibility studies for local production activities in Africa as well as to drive, plan and implement production facilities in Africa.

This position will also act as project manager, on new business and strategy development, lead inter-divisional teams across brands and cultures and to drive and co-ordinate company African footprint.

The incumbent will also negotiate with external partners such as governmental authorities and production partners as well as engage with key stakeholders and determine internal and external factors affecting mid- (<5 years) to long-term (>5 years) needs. The position will also be required to establish and evaluate scenarios for Board decision.

Possible Tasks within this Role

To conduct project feasibility studies for local production activities

To lead an inter-divisional team across brands and cultures

Assume responsibility for the tracking and monitoring of project milestones as agreed by the Board of Management.

Anticipate issues and identify solutions and alternatives in advance by reviewing open tasks and deadlines as well as motivating and encouraging team members in order to ensure targets are fulfilled.

Represent the company within the Group as well as externally

To negotiate with external partners such as governmental authorities and production partners

To engage with Group, Regional, Local and external stakeholders to formulate, implement and monitor the Corporate regional strategy.

Identifying new business opportunities to promote sustainable development in African markets

Managing the evaluation as well as implementation of new projects, primarily local pro-duction activities, in Africa.

Supporting management in preparing, scheduling, coordinating and monitoring of internal resources to ensure the effective execution of assigned projects.

Assisting management by acting as an internal consultant on new business and prioritized projects by engaging with stakeholders and determining internal and external factors affecting mid to long term needs.

Qualification requirements

Degree or Diploma in one of the fields of Economics, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering or equivalent

Experience needed

Minimum 5 years’ experience in project management or strategy environment

Essentials

Negotiating and decision-making experience at a senior level

Financial analysis capability

Automotive experience an advantage

Ability to operate across a wide range of complex business segments

Ability to think, plan and execute at a strategic project management level

Sound decision-making ability

Ability to communicate with and lead teams at all levels

Ability to plan, execute and make decisions on projects and initiatives according to approved KPIs

Ability to monitor and track project progress, to anticipate, identify and resolve major issues and to report and escalate these to the Board or Steering Committees

Leading and motivating inter-divisional teams in a pressurized environment.

Conflict management ability

Experience in representing the Company, locally and internationally, at any level.

Ability to operate and negotiate across cultural lines

Ability to present to multi-national groups at all levels (Heads of Government, Ministers, CEO’s etc.)

Ability to analyze external environment, draw relevant insights and anticipate trends

Ability to develop, analyze and present scenarios

Lecturer/Junior Lecturer: Vegetable Production or Greenhouse Management

• Lecturer/Junior Lecturer: Vegetable Production or Greenhouse Management
• Type of engagement: Permanent appointment

Lecturer/Junior Lecturer: Vegetable Production or Greenhouse Management

Faculty of AgriSciences

Department of Agronomy

Ref. AW01/127/0625

The Department of Agronomy in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) is a recognised leader in the advancement of sustainable crop systems in South Africa. Our work spans cereal and oilseed crops, pastures, vegetables, hydroponics, and protected cropping, with strong links to commercial producers and research networks. We are seeking an academic to contribute to our teaching and research in vegetable production systems, with a strong emphasis on greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation.

Duties:

• Conducting and publishing high-quality research on hydroponic, greenhouse, and field-based vegetable production systems.
• Leading undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in vegetable physiology, crop management, and protected cropping systems.
• Developing and evaluating innovative, industry-current curricula and teaching materials.
• Securing external research funding and managing projects to support hydroponic, greenhouse and vegetable systems research.
• Establishing and maintaining national and international research and industry partnerships.
• Contributing to departmental administration and Faculty-level committees.
• Supporting transformation, community engagement, and industry outreach.

Requirements:

• MSc (for the appointment of junior lecturer), or a PhD (for the appointment of lecturer) in agronomy or a crop science-related field linked to vegetable production.
• Demonstrated expertise in commercial vegetable production systems, including hydroponic and greenhouse technologies.
• A record of peer-reviewed research publications commensurate with the level of appointment.
• Willingness and the ability to supervise postgraduate students.
• The ability to attract and mange external research funding.
• Communication and digital skills for modern teaching, learning, and research.
• Willingness and the ability to obtain industry-related, applied research funding.

Recommendations:

• NRF rating or equivalent research recognition.
• National and or international recognition within the field or discipline.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistics for agricultural research.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in diverse academic and industry teams.

Commencement of duties:

01 August 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter

Enquiries regarding this post: Prof Pieter Swanepoel on , or at

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits, as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on (Stellenbosch) / (Tygerberg), or at

Stellenbosch University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as the institutional EE Plan of the University.

Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and email addresses of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

Should no feedback be received from the University within four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.

About Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch University (SU) is home to an academic community of 29 000 students (including 4 000 foreign students from 100 countries) as well as 3 000 permanent staff members (including 1 000 academics) on five campuses. The historical oak-lined university town amongst the Boland Mountains in the winelands of the Western Cape creates a unique campus atmosphere, which attracts local and foreign students alike. On the main campus, paved walkways wind between campus buildings – some dating from previous centuries; others just a few years old. Architecture from various eras attests to the sound academic foundation and establishment of an institution of excellence. This, together with the scenic beauty of the area; state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facilities and technology, as well as visionary thinking about the creation of a sustainable 21st-century institution, makes for the unique character of Stellenbosch University.

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Join to apply for the Operations Manager - Plant Breeding (Small Grains) role at ExecutivePlacements.com - The JOB Portal

SUMMARY: A dedicated plant-breeding research organization is seeking a candidate for the above role, responsible for overseeing the institute’s daily operations, including trial site management, technical support to breeders, coordination of seasonal planting and harvesting, and ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards. This role is also integral to maintaining the operational link between research and industry, particularly in the context of collaboration with key stakeholders.

Recruiter: Mayfly Agri (Pty) Ltd

Job Ref: PTA001506/EV

Date posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Location: Caledon, South Africa

Salary: Market Related

POSITION INFO:

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Genetics, Plant Sciences, Agronomy, or Agricultural Management (Postgraduate qualification preferred)
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in agricultural operations, plant breeding environments, or research station management
• Proven expertise in coordinating field trials, seed programs, and data-driven research operations
• Experience working in small grains or cereal crops, preferably within breeding or variety development pipelines
• Demonstrated ability to manage large datasets, including traceability, data quality control, and coordination with breeders
• In-depth knowledge of plant breeding systems, variety development, and trial logistics
• Strong leadership, planning, and people management skills
• Excellent skills in data handling, inventory systems, and traceability workflows
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and data platforms used in breeding programs

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Overseeing program delivery and field operations
• Managing infrastructure, equipment, and mechanization
• Monitoring data, traceability, and systems
• Coordinating procurement, logistics, and seed flow
• Handling budgeting, financial oversight, and reporting
• Leading people and aligning stakeholders

Please note that subsequent to the screening and shortlisting process, all further communication will be entered into only with the shortlisted candidates.

Not Applicable

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