Manufacturing Director

The Manufacturing Director is responsible for achieving the required profit contribution by leading operational teams, driving production excellence, and ensuring all strategic, critical, and operational objectives are met. This role carries full accountability for developing and optimising the operating model (people, processes, systems) to ensure efficient, costeffective, and highquality service delivery across all production environments. The successful candidate will establish and maintain bestinclass operational standards, drive a strong performance culture, and ensure alignment between operational outputs and business strategy. Key Performance Areas (KPAs) Service Delivery & Operations Oversee the effective and complete running of all production operations Implement initiatives to measure and drive operational performance Ensure continuous innovation and improvement across operations Maintain all facilities and operations to the highest standards Design and manage cyclical site visits nationally Align service delivery outputs with strategic initiatives Assess operational performance of teams and service partners Develop measurement tools to continuously evaluate service performance Financial & Commercial Management Drive innovation to improve efficiency and reduce costs Optimise operational costs to achieve savings targets Identify opportunities for business growth Ensure service providers fulfil contractual obligations and claim credits where applicable Manage profitability through cost control and financial insight Ensure all spending aligns with approved budgets and commercial frameworks Strategic Leadership Build and embed a customerfocused service culture Ensure all operational services align with strategic intent Identify strategic opportunities for improvement and growth Leverage technology to drive efficiency and innovation Compliance & Governance Ensure full compliance with governance, policies, and operational standards Ensure adherence to documented processes Continuously evaluate dashboards and reporting for relevance and value Proactively manage customer feedback and track resolutions People Management & Team Dynamics Lead, motivate, and manage operational teams nationally Ensure team structures are effective and efficient Develop and implement training programmes to drive desired culture Identify training needs and close skills gaps Collaborate with Operations, Commercial, Projects, and Engineering teams Manage performance outputs and team contribution Support HR/IR processes where required Drive a culture of collaboration and accountability General Administration Daily production reporting and benchmarking Conduct weekly and monthly meetings with production stakeholders Manage and assess operational outputs Maintain accurate records of all production activities Conduct site visits, reporting, and reviews Health & Safety Adhere to SHEQ policies and procedures Maintain ISO standards and implement required measures Ensure OHS compliance across all operations Engage with all teams on quality, HSE, projects, and operational impacts Reporting Prepare monthly presentations for stakeholders Report on production outputs and operational performance Manage SLAs related to production site closures Maintain dashboards and compile statistics/reports as required Adhoc Responsibilities Undertake additional responsibilities as directed by management Lead or support special projects as delegated Person Specification Education BSc Degree, Diploma in Production/Operations, or related qualification Management degree (EDP, MBA, MBL) advantageous Matric (Senior Certificate) Valid SA Drivers Licence Experience 10 years relevant working experience Minimum 8 years Production & Operations experience Minimum 8 years Senior Management experience Experience in precast concrete/paving manufacturing environment JDE experience advantageous Technical / Core Skills Production & Operations Management General Manufacturing People Management Supply Chain & Procurement (Strategic Sourcing) Negotiation Skills Commercial Contract & Vendor Management Finance, Law & Auditing knowledge MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project & Outlook (Intermediate) SAP knowledge OHS Act, ISO 9001, Risk Management Systems Competencies Personal Competencies Planning & organisational skills Initiative and proactivity Pursuit of excellence Attention to detail Performance driven Leadership Competencies Business acumen Decisiveness Strategic intent Outcomebased leadership Ownership and accountability Intellectual Competencies Problem analysis Planning & execution Independence Confidentiality Interpersonal Competencies Relationship building Teamwork Listening skills Managing conflict Service orientation