Manufacturing

Operations Manager

Lactalis South Africa·Gauteng, south-africa·Full Time·Onsite
ManufacturingFull TimeOnsite
-Closes 27 Nov 2026

Job Description

  • Join Lactalis at our Clayville Team as an Operations Manager, responsible for leading and optimizing the manufacturing operations, ensuring the delivery of safety, quality, service, cost, and people development objectives.
  • This role provides strategic and operational leadership across production and related functions, driving operational excellence, continuous improvement, and sustainable business performance. The successful candidate will play a key role in strengthening manufacturing capability, developing leadership within the site, and building a high-performing culture.
  • For individuals demonstrating exceptional performance, leadership capability, and business acumen, this role offers significant long-term growth opportunities within the organisation.

Required Skills

  • Degree or Diploma in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Technology, or related field.
  • Minimum 8-10 years' FMCG manufacturing experience.
  • At least 5 years in a senior operations leadership role.
  • Proven experience leading large teams in a complex manufacturing environment.
  • Dairy experience advantageous.

Duties & Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

  • Lead and manage manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives.
  • Translate business objectives into operational plans and ensure effective execution across all areas of responsibility.
  • Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement, process optimisation, waste reduction, and productivity enhancement initiatives.
  • Ensure production plans are executed efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of quality and food safety.
  • Monitor operational performance through KPIs and implement corrective actions to address deviations and improve results.
  • Ensure optimal utilisation of labour, materials, equipment, and utilities to maximise plant performance.

Financial & Business Performance

  • Manage operating costs and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
  • Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control activities within the operation.
  • Drive initiatives that deliver sustainable savings while maintaining service and quality standards.
  • Develop and utilise performance dashboards and management reporting tools to support informed decision-making.

People Leadership & Talent Development

  • Lead, coach, and develop a growing management team and workforce to build capability and accountability.
  • Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, engagement, and continuous improvement.
  • Drive performance management processes and support succession planning across the operation.
  • Identify and develop future leaders within the business through coaching, mentoring, and structured development plans.
  • Promote effective communication and strong employee relations throughout the site.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

  • Ensure full compliance with all health, safety, environmental, food safety, and legal requirements.
  • Championing a proactive safety culture and ensuring safe work practices are consistently applied.
  • Support and maintain quality management systems to ensure compliance with Lactalis and regulatory standards.
  • Lead investigations into operational incidents and ensure corrective and preventative actions are implemented effectively.

Competencies

  • Strong leadership and people development capability.
  • Strategic thinking with a hands-on operational approach.
  • Commercial and financial acumen.
  • Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.

What Success Looks Like

  • Quickly establish credibility within the operation.
  • Deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, service, cost and people development.
  • Demonstrate leadership, capability and results that contribute to the long-term success of the business.

Deadline:20th November,2026

Key skills

BachelorsNational Diploma
Apply Now

At a glance

Company

Lactalis South Africa

Location

Gauteng, south-africa

Employment

Full Time

Experience

Valid until

November 27, 2026

Created

November 13, 2026

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