Production Lead - Finished Goods

Watchmaker is inviting applications for the full-time position of Production Lead - Finished Goods based In Cape Town, South Africa.  This position reports to the Director of Operations and will be responsible for managing the Production - Finished Goods team in Cape Town. This individual will be accountable for daily departmental  activities.  The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced working environment and  contribute directly to our company culture and success. The position provides an  opportunity to grow and develop as a Production leader. 

Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with QA and ISO 13485 requirements.
• Coordinate the Finished Goods team daily by setting priorities, troubleshooting issues, and leading manufacturing activities.
• Support Formulation, Filling, Labelling and Inspection activities
• Motivate, support, and provide guidance to production staff.
• Support HR in hiring and onboarding production operators to meet manufacturing needs.
• Ensure all safety and health standards are met.
• Communicate regularly with upper management regarding issues impacting production.
• Evaluate equipment and resources to ensure continued production and minimal downtime.
• Establish a balance between increased productivity and reduced manufacturing costs.
• Set and track productivity goals and KPIs to support departmental and quality objectives.
• Ensure adequate scheduling and allocation of staff.
• Lead the execution of manufacturing strategies aligned with departmental growth goals.
• Establish and monitor departmental goals to support robust and continuously improving manufacturing processes.
• Develop and manage the manufacturing schedule in collaboration with other departments.
• Manage inventory requirements to ensure smooth execution of the production plan.
• Respond to and escalate operational, process, equipment, and maintenance problems to the appropriate manager or SME.
• Participate in final stages of process development, formalization of work instructions, and technology transfer to the production team.
• Collaborate with QA and process development to update and implement work instructions.
• Verify accuracy and completeness of manufacturing records (e.g., in Qualio).
• Possess strong technical understanding of manufacturing methods and participate in production activities when needed.
• Promote a culture of high performance, execution, safety, and quality.
• Develop goals and objectives for team members aligned with departmental KPIs.
• Oversee onboarding, training (including 30-60-90 day plans), and ensure adherence to training logs and ISO operational standards.
• Actively train, mentor, and support the career development of the Finished Goods team.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

Skills and Requirements

The candidate should have at minimum a BS in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, with at least five years of relevant industry experience in a manufacturing environment. Broad technical knowledge of life science reagents, enzyme production, or genomics is a plus. 

The following skills and experience are requirements for the position:

• Exceptional leadership and cross-functional team-building skills
• Skilled at building and managing schedules, timelines, and resource allocation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to read, write, and edit technical documents
• Experience within an ISO 13485 environment.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant life science discipline

and

• Minimum of (5+) years in biotech/pharmaceutical or related industry, including positions with broad functional scope across manufacturing, quality, and project management

Application Requirements 

To apply for the position, please submit the following in a PDF format on watchmakergenomics.com: 

• Letter of motivation (upload where it says cover letter)
• Resume or Curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience

Applications without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered. Applicants must be South African or be eligible to work in South Africa and already possess the necessary work permits or visas, or be able to obtain them before responding to this vacancy.

To ensure your application is considered, please submit it by 31 August 2026.  Please note that this position may close earlier if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

If selected to participate in the interview process, the names and contact information of three professional references who are able to assess your suitability for the position in terms of the specified requirements will be requested. We will also request a current pay slip.

NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE

We are only accepting direct applications for this position. We are not working with external recruiters or agencies at this time. Unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from third-party recruiters will not be considered and will be deemed the property of Watchmaker Genomics

SOUTH AFRICA - WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law.

All applicants will be asked if they are currently eligible to work in South Africa.  South African citizens are preferred.

This position may be subject to pre-employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre-employment checks will comply with all applicable laws.