TRAFFIC Eastern Cape

Strategic Operations Leader - Food Production & Scale

Pollock and Associates

Job Description

A high-performing food production enterprise is appointing an Operations Manager to partner closely with an incoming Managing Director and safeguard the business's operational excellence, scalability, and long-term returns.

This is a strategic operations leadership role, created to ensure the organisation operates as one coordinated, disciplined system as complexity, data intensity, and retailer expectations increase. The role provides structured oversight across production systems, packhouse operations, technical infrastructure, compliance, labour discipline, and performance analytics, enabling the MD to focus on growth, client relationships, and capital allocation.

You will bring strong analytical capability, systems thinking, and a deep understanding of modern food production environments, including technical infrastructure, process controls, and compliance frameworks. This role is central to preserving consistent delivery of strong ROI and supporting the transition toward a future multi-site production model.

Requirements
  • Degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Agricultural Management, or related
  • 5-10 years' senior operations leadership experience (agriculture, FMCG, food production, packhouse, or technical manufacturing)
  • Proven strength in process optimisation, data analysis, compliance, and cross-functional leadership
  • Sound understanding of technical operational systems and disciplined execution
  • This role suits a calm, structured leader who combines strategic perspective with operational rigour and earns trust through consistency, judgment, and delivery.

About This Role

Career insights for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers positions

Salary Benchmark
$38,520/year
Source: O*NET (USD)
Job Outlook
This career will grow rapidly in the next few years and will have large numbers of openings.
Key Skills for This Role
Coordination Monitoring Speaking Active Listening Service Orientation
Common Technologies
Microsoft Excel Restaurant Operations & Management Spreadsheet Library Evernote Microsoft Word Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale NCR Advanced Checkout Solution NCR NeighborhoodPOS Compeat Restaurant Accounting Systems