Senior Production Manager

About the role

The Senior Production Manager will lead all poultry and sauce production operations at the Distribution Centre, ensuring that output, yield, product specifications, food safety and hygiene standards are consistently met. The role involves overseeing staff performance, maintaining traceability, and ensuring compliance with SOPs across all production departments.

Key responsibilities

• Manage poultry and sauce production to meet output benchmarks, yield targets and product specifications.
• Maintain food safety, hygiene standards, zero cross‑contamination and strict colour‑coding compliance.
• Oversee daily deep cleaning, weekly acid washing and housekeeping across all production areas.
• Ensure accurate stock accuracy, variance control, full traceability and timely handling of supplier claims and NCRs.
• Lead staff performance, daily reporting, continuous training and adherence to SOPs.

Required profile

• Proven production manager with planning and forecasting experience (minimum 3 years in food processing, preferably poultry).
• HACCP certification and knowledge of R638 (South African food premises hygiene regulations).
• Tertiary qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, Production/Operations or Quality Management.
• Strong managerial and HR/IR skills, able to handle conflict, issue warnings and manage diverse teams.
• Computer literate with MS Office; experience with SAGE is advantageous.

Required skills

• HACCP certification
• Knowledge of R638 food premises hygiene regulations
• MS Office proficiency
• SAGE accounting software (advantageous)