The production manager leads and manages the end-to-end production operation of a centralised sauce manufacturing plant, ensuring safe, efficient and compliant manufacture of products across raw material handling, cooking, cooling, storage, filling, packaging and dispatch support. The role is responsible for delivering production targets while maintaining high standards of food safety, quality, cost control and team performance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Production Planning and Execution
2. Manage daily, weekly and monthly production plans in line with demand, plant capacity and stock requirements.
3. Ensure production activities are executed efficiently across raw material preparation, bulk handling, sauce cooking, cooling, storage, filling and packaging.
4. Monitor process performance to achieve output, yield, labour efficiency and service level targets.
5. Ensure production records, batch documents and traceability requirements are completed accurately and on time.
6. Support commissioning, start-up, validation and production trials for new equipment and processes.
7. Oversee plant process performance to ensure stable and efficient operation.
8. Maintain practical understanding of utilities and production support systems, including boiler, softener plant, air compressor, chiller, cooling tower, diesel systems, bulk ingredient handling, packaging, rotary filling machines and end of lines packaging systems.
9. Identify process bottlenecks and implement improvements to enhance throughput, reduce waste and improve overall efficiency.
10. Work with maintenance and technical teams to ensure equipment and utilities are available to support production requirements.
11. Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, FSSC22000, HACCP, GMP and OH&S requirements.
12. Drive adherence to recipes, process controls, sanitation standards and product specifications.
13. Work closely with quality teams to investigate non-conformances, implement corrective actions and maintain audit readiness.
14. Promote a culture of hygiene, safety and compliance throughout the plant.
15. Lead, develop and manage production teams to deliver safe and effective plant performance.
16. Manage shift structures, labour deployment, training, coaching and performance management.
17. Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, teamwork, discipline and continuous improvement.
18. Coordinate with warehouse and dispatch teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials, packaging materials and finished product flow.
19. Support stock control, FIFO and efficient material movement into and out of production areas.

Requirements:

1. BEng, BTech or National Diploma in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial or Process Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience.
2. Minimum 5 years’ experience in a food, beverage, sauce or liquid processing manufacturing environment.
3. Proven experience in batch processing, cooking, cooling, storage, filling and packaging operations.
4. Working knowledge of plant utilities including boiler, softener plant, air compressor, chiller, cooling tower and diesel systems.
5. Experience in food safety, quality systems, FSSC2200, HACCP, GMP and OH&S compliance.
6. Proven team leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.