Operations Manager (Protein Rendering)

Introduction

An Agritalent client, dog food manufacturer, seeks an Operations Manager to lead and manage all render plant operations to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of all product lines. Responsible for driving plant performance, quality, maintenance, security, and profitability while ensuring compliance with policies, systems, and legislation.

The position reports directly to the Operations Executive

People

Direct Reports: Management team, Senior Operators, Operators, Artisans, General Workers across 3 shifts

Indirect: Contractors, casual labor, security, cleaning services Team

Size: Total of approx. [74] employee

Duties & Responsibilities

• Directing and coordinating all divisional department activities at the Render Plant (maintenance, procurement, orders, planning, production, quality, security, warehouse, dispatch, sales) to develop and implement goals and objectives to meet business efficiency and profitability growth objectives.

• Review and analysis of activities, costs, operations and forecast data to determine department or division progress toward stated goals and objectives.

• Review production and operating reports and resolve operational, manufacturing and facility problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delays and to meet future growth.

• Oversee key projects, processes and performance reports, data and analysis.

• Reviews and approves preparation of accounting analysis for budgetary planning and implementation, production efficiency and financial reporting.

• Review and support departments such as procurement, production, planning, maintenance, quality and sales to improve and provide cost reduction, safety, customer requirements and market growth.

• Continually review and implement improvements, on operations and plans to meet requirements for production planning and to ascertain production or outsourcing requirements to support company and plant goals and targets.

• Assessing production requirements in terms of resource requirements and liaising with relevant departments to ensure optimal supply.

• Estimating, negotiating and agreeing timescales and production plans with relevant stake holders.  Re-negotiating timescales and/or schedules as necessary.

• Implement, execute and manage the planning schedule to ensure actual to target variances kept within acceptable standards and production efficiency target are met.

• Analyse, resolve and report all variances in production efficiencies.

• Liaise with maintenance on all machinery requirements in terms of general maintenance and repairs.

• Ensuring quality control standards are met and all food safety audit requirements are upheld.

• Ensuring health and safety regulations and standards are met.

• Ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to at the Plant.

• Management of staff in terms of:

• Performance

• Discipline

• Training

• Regulatory requirements

• Develop, implement and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) for each area of responsibility.

Desired Experience & Qualification

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: National Diploma / Degree in Engineering, Food Technology, Animal Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field, Preferred: BSc / BEng in Mechanical, Chemical, or Production Engineering

Experience

• 5-8 years’ experience in a manufacturing / FMCG / Food or Feed processing environment3+ years in a supervisory/managerial role, managing multi-shift operations and teams

• Render Plant / Abattoir / Protein processing experience will be an advantage

• Proven track record in production management, cost control, SHEQ, and continuous improvement

Certifications & Knowledge - Advantageous

• HACCP / FSSC 22000 / ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 knowledge

• OHS Act and Environmental Legislation knowledge

• Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

• Boiler Operators Certificate

• SYSPRO / ERP systems experience

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of plant equipment: cookers, presses, centrifuges, boilers, effluent treatment

• Knowledge of yield management, energy efficiency, and maintenance planning

• Data analysis and reporting using Excel / KPI dashboards

Behavioral Competencies/Personal Characteristics

• Logical & Strategic thinking. Driven individual; Proactive attitude; Work independently

Be a team player, energetic, enthusiastic, results-oriented, good with planning and organizing