Factory Manager (Meat) at Dixie Recruitment

• Our Client is a well-established integrated meat processing business with a processing plant, wholesale division and retail butcheries. They are seeking an experienced Factory Manager to take full accountability for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of the factory and wholesale division.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• National Diploma or Degree in Food Production / Operations, Food Technology, Meat Science or equivalent.
• HACCP and food-safety training essential; FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 advantageous.
• Butcher trade qualification or practical cutting experience preferred.
• Minimum 4 years' experience as a Factory Manager, Plant Manager or Senior Production Manager within meat processing.
• Proven experience managing a cutting or further-processing plant supplying retail and/or wholesale customers.
• Strong knowledge of carcass and primal yield, cutting, mince and value-added meat production.
• Experience managing cold-chain, high-volume production and dispatch.
• Experience managing large, preferably unionised, hourly workforces.
• Good knowledge of South African meat hygiene, food-safety and OHS requirements.
• Competent in ERP / production systems and MS Excel.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full factory operation from receiving, cutting and processing through to packing, chilling, storage and dispatch.
• Own production planning to ensure retail stores and wholesale customers are supplied accurately and on time.
• Drive yield, throughput, labour efficiency, waste reduction and overall factory profitability.
• Ensure consistent product quality, specifications, pack weights, labelling and shelf life.
• Maintain cold-chain integrity and effective stock control, FIFO and traceability.
• Take operational ownership of the wholesale division, including service levels, order accuracy, returns and margin protection.
• Work closely with sales and retail management to plan production, promotions and seasonal demand.
• Own all food-safety, HACCP, hygiene, traceability and compliance requirements, ensuring the plant remains audit-ready and compliant with applicable meat hygiene legislation, food-safety standards, municipal requirements and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Lead, develop and manage supervisors and a large factory workforce.
• Drive a strong safety culture and manage performance, discipline and attendance.
• Manage key factory costs including labour, utilities, packaging, maintenance and waste.
• Monitor and report on production volumes, yields, OTIF, complaints, labour and cost variances.
• Ensure plant, machinery, refrigeration and facilities are maintained to required standards.

The Ideal Candidate

• A hands-on, commercially minded and decisive Factory Manager who understands meat processing, yield management, food safety and high-volume production. The successful candidate must be comfortable leading from the factory floor, managing pressure and holding teams accountable to high standards.