Team Leader (Cheese Production)

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
Our client, a leading player in the FMCG sector is seeking a strategic leader to oversee cheese production operations in the Eastern Cape. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a driven professional to influence production standards, uphold food safety regulations, and drive operational excellence in a facility committed to quality and safety. What You'll Do: Lead, supervise, and coordinate a team of up to 24 employees, ensuring adherence to company policies, productivity targets, and workplace discipline. Oversee the operation of draining vats, cheese towers, and associated equipment, guaranteeing efficient and uninterrupted cheese manufacturing. Monitor critical production parameters including pH, salt addition, vacuum pressure, weight, and recipe compliance to meet product specifications. Ensure all cheese products are produced, handled, packed, and transferred in accordance with quality, weight, traceability, and food safety standards. 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 achieving set targets. Promote a safe working environment through the enforcement of safety procedures, PPE compliance, incident reporting, and safety awareness initiatives. Manage raw materials, packaging supplies, and resources to ensure continuous product availability and minimal waste. Complete and sign off on production, quality, hygiene, traceability, and ISO documentation accurately and punctually. Conduct equipment inspections and sanitation checks to ensure operational readiness. Collaborate with departments such as Cheesemaking, Laboratory, Warehouse, Planning, and Cold Storage to maintain high product quality and seamless production flow. Train, coach, and develop employees to ensure compliance with SOPs and foster continuous skills growth. Requirements: Proven leadership skills with the ability to supervise and develop a team. Strong understanding of cheese production processes and equipment. Knowledge of food safety management systems, including HACCP, GMP, ISO standards. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Ability to monitor and control production metrics and ensure quality standards. Relevant experience in FMCG food production, preferably dairy. Nice to Have: Prior experience in a similar leadership role within the dairy or cheese manufacturing industry. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you not receive a response within 14 days, kindly consider your application unsuccessful. Your CV will be retained on our database for future opportunities that may match your profile. Candidates are also welcome to submit their CVs directly to or register on our website at for consideration for future roles.