A well-established meat producer and distributor is seeking a highly experienced, disciplined, and results-driven Operations Manager to lead and optimise all site operations. The successful candidate will oversee the carcass warehouse, box warehouse, offal department, and transport department, while managing approximately 260 staff members. This role is critical to ensuring legal and operational compliance, exceptional quality standards, cost efficiency, cold-chain integrity, stock control, security, sanitation, and the smooth flow of operations within a high-pressure, fast-paced meat processing and logistics environment.
Minimum requirements for the role:
Must have a National Senior Certificate (Grade 12); A tertiary qualification in Supply Chain or Logistics will be an advantage
Minimum 10 years' proven experience in Cold Chain Logistics and Site Management, preferably within the meat, food processing, or perishable goods industry
Strong management skills with a demonstrated track record of successfully leading large teams (200+ staff)
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage diverse teams
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on data-driven decision making
Solid experience in operations and logistics management, including fleet, driver, and regulatory compliance
Proven expertise in cost control, budget management, stock control, and loss prevention
Must have hands-on experience in cold-chain and warehouse operations, sanitation, quality control, and food safety standards
High level of computer literacy (MS Office, operational systems, and reporting tools)
Honest, disciplined, reliable, professional, and ethical with strong personal integrity
Ability to work independently under pressure, with resilience and adaptability in a fast-paced environment, including willingness to work flexible hours, weekends, night shifts, overtime, and public holidays as required
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
Overseeing and optimising daily operations across the carcass warehouse, box warehouse, offal department, and transport department to achieve maximum efficiency and output.
Managing, leading, and developing a team of approximately 260 staff members, fostering a culture of discipline, accountability, and high performance.
Ensuring successful planning and execution of all customer orders through effective transport operations, route optimisation, and on-time deliveries.
Managing the full fleet and driver function, including vehicle maintenance, driver compliance, safety standards, and regulatory (legal) adherence.
Controlling and reducing transport and operational costs through disciplined fleet utilisation, maintenance oversight, and efficient resource allocation.
Maintaining site-wide cleanliness, security, and regulatory compliance at all times, including effective management of the security service provider and access control.
Overseeing the sanitation team to ensure consistent adherence to hygiene, food safety, and health standards across all departments.
Leading the quality control department to maintain product standards, traceability, and full compliance with industry regulations.
Managing stock integrity, ageing processes, and inventory movement in the carcass and box warehouses to minimise losses while preserving product quality.
Ensuring sufficient cooling capacity, accurate scales, and proper temperature monitoring across all cold-chain facilities to protect product integrity.
Optimising workflow, transaction flows, and turnaround times across the site to improve operational efficiency and customer service levels.
Controlling stock levels, queue management, and movement in the offal department to ensure product availability, accuracy, and minimal waste.
Monitoring and managing freezer and refrigeration systems to maintain optimal conditions and support overall operational requirements.
Implementing and enforcing loss prevention measures, cost controls, and performance reporting to achieve budget targets and operational KPIs.
Conducting regular site inspections, audits, and performance reviews to identify improvement opportunities and ensure continuous operational excellence.