Team Leader -Cheese Production at Woodlands Dairy

Job Description
Key Performance Areas: 

• Lead, supervise, and coordinate up to 24 employees to ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, productivity targets, and workplace discipline. 
• Oversee the operation of draining vats, cheese towers, and associated equipment to ensure efficient and uninterrupted cheese production. 
• Monitor cheese production processes, including pH levels, salt addition, vacuum pressure, weight control, and recipe compliance to achieve product specifications. 
• Ensure all cheese products are produced, handled, packed, and transferred according to quality, weight, traceability, and food safety requirements. 
• 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 ensuring production targets are achieved. 
• Promote a safe working environment through compliance with safety procedures, PPE requirements, incident reporting, and safety awareness initiatives. 
• Monitor raw materials, packaging materials, and production resources to ensure product availability and minimize waste. 
• Complete and sign off production, quality, hygiene, traceability, and ISO documentation accurately and on time. 
• Conduct inspections of equipment, production areas, and sanitation activities to ensure operational readiness and compliance. 
• Coordinate with the Cheesemaker, Laboratory, Warehouse, Planning, and Cold Storage departments to maintain product quality and production flow. 
• Train, coach, and develop employees to ensure competency, compliance with SOPs, and continuous skills development.

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Grade 12 / Matric and SP2 qualification with Nature of Milk. 
• HACCP and Safety Training Certificate. 
• Minimum of 1 years' experience in a cheese manufacturing environment. 
• Previous supervisory experience overseeing teams in a production environment. 
• Ability to supervise and coordinate up to 24 employees. 
• Sound knowledge of cheese manufacturing processes, draining vats, cheese towers, and cheese production operations. 
• Strong understanding of GMP, HACCP, ISO, Food Safety, Quality, and Hygiene requirements. 
• Working knowledge of production equipment and machinery used within a cheese factory. 
• Ability to monitor production performance, yields, waste, and product quality standards. 
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills. 
• Good planning, leadership, and people management skills. 
• Ability to conduct employee training, coaching, and performance monitoring. 
• Good communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the business. 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to product quality and food safety. 
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced production environment. 
• Computer literacy and accurate record-keeping skills will be advantageous. 
• First Aid, Supervisory, Dairyman, and Chain Hoist Training will be advantageous. 

Deadline:16th September,2026