Team Leader -Cheese Production

Woodlands Dairy · Eastern Cape

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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

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Team Leader -Cheese Production at Woodlands Dairy — Eastern Cape · JobAlertsZA