Production Supervisor

SUMMARY:
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR 
Location: Queenstown, Eastern Cape 

NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUIREMENTS: 
- Food Technology/Diary Processing diploma/degree
- Minimum 5 years' experience in processed cheese         manufacturing industry 
- Technical experience in slice-on-slice production 

ROLE OVERVIEW: 

POSITION INFO:
Minimum requirements:

• Grade 12 / Matric / Equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in processed cheese manufacturing, including supervisory experience.
• Extensive technical experience in slice-on-slice cheese production (non-negotiable).
• Relevant qualification in Food Technology, Dairy Processing, or equivalent, with a minimum of NQF 4; NQF 5+ and further dairy certifications are advantageous.
• In-depth understanding of FSSC 22000 version 6, including implementation and audit readiness.
• Strong working knowledge of high-care manufacturing environments and HACCP principles.
• Proven track record in managing production KPIs, including yield, waste, quality, and efficiency.

• Leadership-oriented.
• Detail-focused.
• Organised and disciplined.
• Analytical and problem-solving.
• Collaborative.

• Operational Leadership:
  • Manage all production activities within the slice-on-slice department, including planning, scheduling and daily output performance.
  • Lead Team Leaders and a total workforce of ±15 employees ensuring effective manpower utilisation.
  • Maintain strict adherence to daily production targets, efficiency standards and customer specifications.
• Food Safety and Quality Compliance:
  • Ensure full compliance with FSSC 22000 (V6), internal policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Monitor CCPs, hygiene standards, allergen controls and GMP compliance.
  • Lead and support internal and external audits and ensure 100% audit readiness at all times.
• Performance and Cost Control:
  • Drive yield optimisation, material control, waste reduction and cost efficiency.
  • Analyse and report departmental KPIs, variances and corrective actions.
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce downtime.
• People Management and Development:
  • Provide clear leadership, coaching and performance management of team leaders and production staff.
  • Ensure skills development, adherence to SOPs and compliance with company policies and safety procedures.
  • Maintain a high-performance and disciplined culture within the department.
• Stakeholder and Customer Interaction:
  • Engage with Quality, Technical, Warehouse and Distribution and SHE teams to ensure seamless operational performance.
  • Participate in customer visits and ensure compliance with global QSR standards.