Chief Operating Officer: ProductionFMCG Manufacturing | Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Dairy, Soap & Bakery | Multi-Factory OperationsLocation: Klapmuts/Franschhoek area.Salary offered: Market related and dependent on experience.Position type: Full time, permanent position.Our client is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Head of Operations: Production to lead and oversee a diverse group of manufacturing operations spanning non-alcoholic beverages, dairy, soap production, and bakery manufacturing.This is a senior executive leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, financial performance, and long-term strategic growth across multiple production sites. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping and executing the overall manufacturing strategy while ensuring efficiency, quality, and scalability across all business units.Key Responsibilities Develop and implement an integrated operational strategy across all manufacturing facilities, focused on sustainable growth, profitability, and operational excellence Oversee end-to-end performance of all production units against budgets, revenue targets, and profitability goals Analyse financial and operational performance, identify trends, and provide actionable insights and recommendations to executive leadership Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process and ensure disciplined execution throughout the financial year Optimise production processes, capacity utilisation, and cost efficiency across all sites Drive continuous improvement initiatives, innovation, and product development across manufacturing divisions Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, performance, and operational discipline Collaborate closely with technical, logistics, and commercial teams to ensure integrated and efficient operations Ensure strict compliance with quality assurance and food safety standards across all facilities RequirementsRequirements 5–8+ years’ experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, or production management, with at least part of this at senior management level Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Engineering, Production Management, or a related field Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes and production environments Proven track record in strategic planning and execution within complex operational settings Strong financial acumen, including the ability to interpret financial statements and drive data-led business decisions Experience managing multi-site or multi-departmental operations will be highly advantageous Strong leadership capability with experience managing large teams Excellent problem-solving ability with strong attention to detail Ability to perform effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment Personal Attributes Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness Results-driven, decisive, and execution-focused Analytical and structured in approach Innovative with a continuous improvement mindset High sense of ownership, accountability, and integrity Strong communicator in both Afrikaans and English
Chief Operating Officer: Production
- FMCG Manufacturing | Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Dairy, Soap & Bakery | Multi-Factory Operations
- Location: Klapmuts/Franschhoek area.
- Salary offered: Market related and dependent on experience.
- Position type: Full time, permanent position.
Our client is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Head of Operations: Production to lead and oversee a diverse group of manufacturing operations spanning non-alcoholic beverages, dairy, soap production, and bakery manufacturing.
This is a senior executive leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, financial performance, and long-term strategic growth across multiple production sites. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping and executing the overall manufacturing strategy while ensuring efficiency, quality, and scalability across all business units.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement an integrated operational strategy across all manufacturing facilities, focused on sustainable growth, profitability, and operational excellence
- Oversee end-to-end performance of all production units against budgets, revenue targets, and profitability goals
- Analyse financial and operational performance, identify trends, and provide actionable insights and recommendations to executive leadership
- Lead the annual business planning and budgeting process and ensure disciplined execution throughout the financial year
- Optimise production processes, capacity utilisation, and cost efficiency across all sites
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, innovation, and product development across manufacturing divisions
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, performance, and operational discipline
- Collaborate closely with technical, logistics, and commercial teams to ensure integrated and efficient operations
- Ensure strict compliance with quality assurance and food safety standards across all facilities
Requirements
Requirements
- 5–8+ years’ experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, or production management, with at least part of this at senior management level
- Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Engineering, Production Management, or a related field
- Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes and production environments
- Proven track record in strategic planning and execution within complex operational settings
- Strong financial acumen, including the ability to interpret financial statements and drive data-led business decisions
- Experience managing multi-site or multi-departmental operations will be highly advantageous
- Strong leadership capability with experience managing large teams
- Excellent problem-solving ability with strong attention to detail
- Ability to perform effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness
- Results-driven, decisive, and execution-focused
- Analytical and structured in approach
- Innovative with a continuous improvement mindset
- High sense of ownership, accountability, and integrity
- Strong communicator in both Afrikaans and English
We place world-class people into high-growth, founder-led companies. Our clients are companies that are obsessed with finding the right people.
We place world-class people into high-growth, founder-led companies. Our clients are companies that are obsessed with finding the right people.
