Operations Director

Location: Sandton, Johannesburg

Our client is seeking an experienced and commercially astute Operations Director to provide strategic leadership across a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment. This senior executive opportunity is ideal for a manufacturing leader with a strong track record in operational excellence, manufacturing strategy, continuous improvement and delivering sustainable business performance.

The successful candidate will provide strategic direction across manufacturing, engineering, quality, SHEQ, assets, technology and capital investment, while leading through General Managers to ensure consistent operational performance across the manufacturing network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Operations strategy in alignment with overall business objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership across multiple manufacturing sites and ensure alignment of capacity, capability and production requirements.
• Drive improvements in productivity, throughput, yield, OEE, quality, waste, reliability and manufacturing cost.
• Own and continuously strengthen the Operations Management System (OMS), ensuring it is embedded as the standard way of managing manufacturing performance.
• Embed Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement principles across the organisation.
• Drive standardisation of processes, operating practices, performance measures and problem-solving disciplines across sites.
• Oversee quality strategy and governance, driving quality at source and reducing defects, rework, non-conformances and customer complaints.
• Set the long-term engineering, asset reliability, maintenance and technology strategy.
• Identify opportunities for automation and technology to improve manufacturing performance and competitiveness.
• Develop and prioritise the Operations capital plan and provide governance over major capital projects.
• Drive manufacturing cost optimisation and hold General Managers accountable for site budgets and financial performance.
• Provide strategic direction for SHEQ performance and ensure operational, safety and environmental risks are effectively managed.
• Lead and develop General Managers and the broader Operations leadership team.
• Build organisational capability, succession plans and leadership depth across the Operations function.
• Lead significant operational and organisational change initiatives.

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or a related discipline.
• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading multiple manufacturing sites or large operational business units.
• Experience leading General Managers or senior operational leaders.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing economics, engineering, asset management and quality.
• Proven experience developing and executing manufacturing strategy.
• Strong practical knowledge and application of Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Experience implementing and sustaining an Operations Management System (OMS) or equivalent manufacturing excellence system.
• Significant capital investment and project governance experience.
• Proven track record of improving manufacturing performance, productivity, quality and cost.

Highly Advantageous

• Experience within process manufacturing or high-volume manufacturing environments.
• FMCG, or packaging industry experience.
• Experience across Mill and Converting operations.
• Postgraduate qualification in Business or Management.

Key Competencies

• Executive Leadership
• Manufacturing Strategy
• Multi-Site Operations Management
• Operational Excellence
• Lean Manufacturing
• Manufacturing Performance Management
• Engineering & Asset Management
• Quality & SHEQ Leadership
• Capital Investment & Project Governance
• Commercial & Financial Acumen
• Continuous Improvement
• Change Management
• Leadership Development
• Strategic Decision-Making
• Stakeholder Management

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to take executive ownership of a complex manufacturing operation and influence the long-term strategy, competitiveness and performance of the organisation. The role offers significant scope to drive operational excellence, strengthen manufacturing capability, lead high-impact improvement initiatives and shape the future of a multi-site manufacturing network.

If you are an accomplished manufacturing leader with a proven ability to lead large-scale operations, develop high-performing teams and deliver measurable improvements across safety, quality, productivity and cost, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today by submitting your detailed CV.

Please note: Should you not be contacted within two weeks, please take your application has been unsuccessful.