Head of Production - SVP (Port Elizabeth) at Aspen Pharma Group

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