Overview:
Oversee and take full accountability for end-to-end production operations, ensuring the achievement of production targets, OTIF delivery within cost budgets, and effective leadership across Production, QC, Production Planning, and Maintenance.
Responsibilities:
Production management
Manage, organise, control and supervise all aspects of the site in line with company policies and procedures
Ensure the timely supply of quality products to customers
Ensure that proper maintenance is carried out on equipment, utilities and manufacturing areas
Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Leadership
Overall accountability for SHE performance, including safety culture, incident prevention, legal compliance, and visible safety leadership
Drive safe systems of work and embed safety as a core production discipline
Risk management and compliance
Ensure that production documentation is GMP and legislation-compliant, on time and reviewed prior to approval
Implement/ support risk-based approaches for manufacturing operations and equipment
Quality and continuous improvement
Oversee the development and implementation of, and adherence to, SOPs in the department and ensure GMP compliance
Ensure the areas of the department meet hygiene and cleanliness standards and that equipment/ process validations are performed
Ensure that products are produced and stored according to appropriate documentation to obtain required quality
Support QA/ QC in quality investigations and represent the department during inspections and audits, as and when required
Inspection Readiness & Regulatory Interface
Overall accountability for inspection readiness across all production areas
Act as a key site representative during SAHPRA, FDA, and customer inspections
Ensure timely closure and sustainability of production-related CAPAs
Operational Excellence & KPI Ownership
Full ownership of operational KPIs including OPP, cost, yield, scrap, labour efficiency, and throughput
Drive regular performance reviews, loss analysis, and corrective actions
Take accountability for recovery plans where performance deviates from budget or operational plans Explore competitor activity, market trends and new initiatives
Motivate, train and develop department heads and their direct reports
Agree business plans and performance targets with department managers and monitor these, taking necessary corrective actions
People Capability, Succession & Workforce Stability
Build sustainable production teams through talent development, succession planning, and capability uplift
Manage industrial relations risks in collaboration with HR
Drive employee engagement, attendance, and accountability within production teams
Organisational Support & Function Management
Manage, organise, control and supervise the process of approved capital expenditure, ensuring financial, conceptual and phasing objectives are achieved in line with company policy
Participate in the development and lead the implementation of the strategic vision and direction for business-critical functions across SA, as well as all related plans, policies and procedures
Perform financial and human resources functions to ensure optimal management of the function and reporting units and leaders
Manage collaboration and coordination between reporting units
Maintain/ support positive customer engagements and problem resolution
Manage the site within agreed budgets
Digital, Data & Systems Leadership
Leverage production data, MES, KPIs, and dashboards to drive data-led decision-making
Support digital initiatives that improve scheduling accuracy, OEE, and operational visibility
Change Leadership & Transformation
Lead teams through change, restructuring, and operating model transitions
Embed new ways of working, governance structures, and accountability post-change
Commercial & Customer Focus
Understand commercial priorities and translate them into executable production plans
Manage customer commitments, supply continuity, and escalation where delivery is at risk
Requirements:
Background/experience
10 years' related experience with strong manufacturing experience
Managing a strategic production site (ideally in a pharmaceutical environment)
Management of projects in an international context
Proven leadership capability and managerial experience at a senior level
Minimum of Bachelor's degree, ideally in Engineering
Specific job skills
In-depth insight into pharmaceutical manufacturing and pharmaceutical standards/ compliance
Deep understanding of quality, operations and logistics
People and departmental management
Competencies
Translating Strategy
Interpreting and Internalising Information
Offering Insights
Making Decisions
Managing Performance
Customer Awareness