Manufacturing Operations Manager – Plant

About the role

Talentfuse is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Operations Manager to lead its Gauteng plant. Reporting directly to the executive leadership team, you will own the overall performance of the operation, driving productivity, quality, safety and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day manufacturing activities to ensure optimal plant performance.
• Drive operational KPIs, productivity, quality, safety and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Manage engineering projects, plant maintenance and technical upgrades.
• Support new product development and manufacturing innovation.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to meet customer requirements and support business growth.
• Mentor, develop and lead a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high‑performance culture.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and optimise processes.
• Build strong relationships across operations, engineering, sales and executive leadership.

Required profile

• Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing experience.
• At least 4 years in a senior leadership or General Management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of how operational decisions impact profitability.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and deliver operational results.
• Experience in industrial packaging or a related manufacturing sector is advantageous.

Required skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.