Production Shift Manager

Production Shift Manager

Location: Bethlehem / Vrede, Free State

A well-established animal feed manufacturing operation is seeking a driven and experienced Production Shift Manager to take full accountability for plant performance during assigned shifts. This role plays a key part in optimising output, leading production teams, and ensuring consistent compliance with quality, safety, and cost targets.

The successful candidate will be responsible for supervising production staff, coordinating workflows, and ensuring optimal plant performance in a safe, compliant, and cost-effective manner. This is an operationally critical role suited to a strong leader who can balance people management, technical understanding, and production discipline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead production teams to ensure total plant functionality and equipment performance during shifts.
• Align production activities with planned volume, quality, cost, safety, and development targets.
• Take ownership of time management, risk mitigation, plant uptime, people performance, and quality control.
• Drive manufacturing results through clear communication, planning, monitoring, and performance management.
• Monitor workflow processes, processing variables, control points, personnel, and resources to ensure efficiency.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction and process improvement initiatives.
• Plan, schedule, and allocate staff while setting priorities and resolving production issues.
• Maintain strict quality standards and compile accurate production performance records.
• Ensure a safe, clean, and compliant working environment in line with policies and procedures.
• Manage shift handovers and ensure continuity across operations.
• Monitor actual production against planned targets and report variances.
• Record and analyse downtime related to man, machine, and system performance.
• Ensure the workforce's understanding of performance expectations and accountability.
• Identify and report quality issues to line management and Quality Assurance.
• Take full responsibility for plant operations during overnight shifts and weekends, when on duty.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years experience in a supervisory role within an animal feed or manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on technical and troubleshooting experience will be advantageous.
• Sound working knowledge of ISO 14000, ISO 14001, and ISO 9001 standards.
• Previous experience leading a production team, preferably within animal feed manufacturing.
• Literacy in English, both written and verbal.
• Willingness to work shifts.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical and organisational skills.
• Proven leadership and people management ability.
• Effective problem-solving capability.
• Sound product and process knowledge.
• Computer literacy.
• Solid industrial relations and interpersonal skills.
• Self-driven with strong assertiveness and work ethic.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Please submit your CV to: