Team Leader (Cheese Production)

Our client, a leading player in the FMCG sector is seeking a strategic leader to oversee cheese production operations in the Eastern Cape. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a driven professional to influence production standards, uphold food safety regulations, and drive operational excellence in a facility committed to quality and safety. What You'll Do: - Lead, supervise, and coordinate a team of up to 24 employees, ensuring adherence to company policies, productivity targets, and workplace discipline. - Oversee the operation of draining vats, cheese towers, and associated equipment, guaranteeing efficient and uninterrupted cheese manufacturing. - Monitor critical production parameters including pH, salt addition, vacuum pressure, weight, and recipe compliance to meet product specifications. - Ensure all cheese products are produced, handled, packed, and transferred in accordance with quality, weight, traceability, and food safety standards. - Maintain compliance with HACCP, ISO, GMP, hygiene, sanitation, and quality standards throughout the production process. - Drive production efficiency by monitoring yields, controlling waste, reducing losses, and achieving set targets. - Promote a safe working environment through the enforcement of safety procedures, PPE compliance, incident reporting, and safety awareness initiatives. - Manage raw materials, packaging supplies, and resources to ensure continuous product availability and minimal waste. - Complete and sign off on production, quality, hygiene, traceability, and ISO documentation accurately and punctually. - Conduct equipment inspections and sanitation checks to ensure operational readiness. - Collaborate with departments such as Cheesemaking, Laboratory, Warehouse, Planning, and Cold Storage to maintain high product quality and seamless production flow. - Train, coach, and develop employees to ensure compliance with SOPs and foster continuous skills growth. Requirements: - Proven leadership skills with the ability to supervise and develop a team. - Strong understanding of cheese production processes and equipment. - Knowledge of food safety management systems, including HACCP, GMP, ISO standards. - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. - Ability to monitor and control production metrics and ensure quality standards. - Relevant experience in FMCG food production, preferably dairy. Nice to Have: - Prior experience in a similar leadership role within the dairy or cheese manufacturing industry. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not receive a response within 14 days, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.