Plant Operations Manager at VVF

Role Purpose

Plant & Ops Manager is responsible for Production output against a plan, ensuring compliance with all HSE and Quality Standards.Leads a team and gives direction to Production, Maintenance and Warehouse operations and works cross-functionally with other Business functions  

Key Responsibilities

Planning and Strategizing

• Actively participate in strategic planning for the business.
• Plan, develop and implement strategy for South Africa operations so as to meet agreed organizational performance plans within agreed budgets and timescales.
• Set operations budgets with function wise allocations.
• Build and assess innovative strategies to meet product demand more effectively (e.g. appointing contractors for non-core processes, allocation of production plan)
• Responsible for planning and fulfilling company product demand by managing the integrated operations value chain in a manner that maximizes productivity without compromising on quality
• Policy and Process Design, Implementation and Review
• Calculate, measure and achieve OTIF customer wise on a monthly basis as per plan
• Ensure Delivery of production targets as per weekly line plan as per S&OP.
• Demonstrate capability to achieve a stretched production output without compromising quality and safety
• Maintain a client audit rating at the minimum as decided with the Country Manager.
• Make key capacity utilization decisions for South Africa manufacturing facilities to ensure that consolidated local production is at lowest cost and within planned schedule. 
• Coordination, Interface, Imparting Training to Internal and External entities
• Oversee development of and sign-off on well-integrated functional plans and budgets (production, supply chain, procurement, quality, HSE etc.) to ensure that objectives are achieved through collaboration and support from cross-functional team
• Liaise regularly with other functional/departmental managers so as to ensure that South African manufacturing facility plans are capable of meeting product demands, and aligned to business unit plans
• Liaise with R&D to implement best practices, tools and techniques in South Africa manufacturing facility and support implementation of new and updated technology
• Build relations with various external agencies, such as vendors, customers, industry bodies, contractors, government bodies etc.
• Create and drive cross-functional teams for process improvements and new product development Ensure that required training and other capability development opportunities are available to the team; provide continuous feedback to subordinates 
• Management of performance, capability and morale
• Manage, measure and review performance, capability and morale of the manufacturing, supply chain, HSE and projects departments as well as the support function business partners (HR, Quality and finance) at South Africa
• Sanction with approval from Country Manager, new infrastructure, technology, resources, capital etc. to support performance improvements from time to time 
• Give appropriate direction and provide expertise to the operations team from time to time, continuously building one's functional and leadership skills
• Capital expenditure and project feasibility decisions
• Evaluate, seek approval from Country Manager and sign off major capital expenditure decisions and projects to enhance performance of operations departments
• Assess project proposals received from the business, support and provide insight to projects team into evaluation of project feasibility, prioritise and sanction projects for various operational and business unit needs

Educational Qualification(Required) - Preferably Mechanical engineering or commercial 

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in in Operations management in a manufacturing FMCG environment 
• Experience in FMCG is a must. Experience in Soap & Detergent Manufacturing is preferred.
• Strategic Thinking and in-depth knowledge of operations management
• Financial & Commercial Acumen
• Thorough understanding of the product manufacturing process
• Knowledge of company’s strategy, structure and practices
• Proven ability to build, sustain, and influence relationships, at all levels of an organization
• Strong conceptual, planning, conflict management and decision-making skills
• Deep data analysis, planning and forecasting skills
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills 
• Deep people development, coaching and leadership/teambuilding experience