Senior Production Manager - Poultry

About the role

Pedros is looking for a Senior Production Manager to oversee all poultry and sauce production operations at its Distribution Centre (DC). The role ensures that production output benchmarks, yield targets, product specifications, food safety, hygiene standards, stock accuracy, traceability, staff performance and SOP compliance are met consistently across all production departments.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain housekeeping and hygiene standards across all production areas, including daily deep cleaning and weekly acid washing, which must be completed and verified without exception
• Prevent cross-contamination by enforcing colour-coding and the 3-Bucket System, and ensure staff comply with personal hygiene, PPE and handwashing
• Achieve production output benchmarks and yield targets across poultry smalls and other production categories
• Keep product specifications compliant for fillets, strips and chicken products, and maintain stock accuracy, variance control and full traceability
• Manage supplier claims and NCRs within specified timelines, and ensure accurate daily reporting, effective staff management and continuous employee training

Required profile

• Well-experienced production manager with a strong background in food processing, preferably poultry (3 years+)
• Solid understanding of production yield and HACCP certification
• Tertiary qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, Production/Operations or Quality Management
• Knowledge of R638 (South African food premises hygiene regulations)
• Management-level experience, including staff management and conflict resolution in a diverse workplace
• Solid track record of work experience and no criminal record

Required skills

• Planning and forecasting
• MS Office (computer literate)
• SAGE software is advantageous