Operation Manager Processing - Reitz at VKB Group

Introduction

• Grain Field Chickens, a subsidiary of VKB Agriculture (PTY)Ltd, is a dynamic role player in the integrated broiler industry with an abattoir in Reitz in the North Eastern Free State. We offer you the opportunity to establish yourself within a professional, corporate environment in the countryside.

Job Description

• Responsible for managing coordinating and overseeing the overall plant operation. Ensures that the plant's production objectives are achieved at the lowest cost consistent with quality requirements while maintaining compliance to all Safety and Environmental regulations and laws.
• Grade 12 or NQF Level 4 Equivalent.
• A qualification in Operations/ Business/ Management is required.
• Preferred qualifications: A degree, Six Sigma, Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• At least 10 years’ experience in the poultry industry is required.
• 3 Years’ experience on at least middle management level is required.
• Proven financial planning and budgeting background in a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience implementing and using continuous improvement/ lean tools to drive improvement.
• Previous experience/ broad understanding of safety systems and enforcement of safety rules and policies in a manufacturing environment.
• Computer literate (Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word).
• CB - Code B driver’s license and own reliable transport.
• A willingness to work shifts/ overtime incl. on weekends where required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily management and coordination of plant operations and all activities related to operations/ production.
• Ensure profitability of operations and compliance with all labor, safety, environmental and company policies and regulations.
• Planning, organizing resources, executing work plans, monitoring production and quality, coordinating priorities, resolving issues and participating in special projects and work schedules.
• Manage the Processing staff in terms to facilitate attainment of KPI’s, and monitor performance of individuals in attaining KPI’s and institutes corrective action if necessary
• Drives company culture and morale within the team.
• Implement ongoing shop-floor system and measurement of all departments against set standards
• Optimize labour and supervision to ensure all personnel are utilized effectively and adjust needs as plant requirements change
• Ensure best practices are implemented over both shifts.
• Daily forklift / facility inspections and handovers between shifts in place.
• Provide input to the Abattoir manager to co-create and commit to an appropriate budget during the annual budgeting process.
• Authorize stores requisitions and provide initial sign off of invoices prior to submission to the Abattoir manager
• Work with the Administration department to ensure accurate reporting.
• Co-ordinate and sign off on processing submission of all required documentation for inclusion in the information systems.
• Ensures that all Processing staff, keep timecards and other routine records (Leave planning etc.) and all relative documentation is submitted and authorized as per procedures.
• Utilize plant capacity spreadsheet to determine hourly throughput.
• Ensure all supervisors / managers are trained on these short interval controls
• Planning of Easter and Christmas and any other holiday planning with the Farms / Sales teams as well as communicate to Workers forum the Operational requirements
• Plan and manage weekend processing with the relevant teams and role-players.
• Ensures the neatness / housekeeping of all areas of responsibility.
• Develops a daily work schedule for all activities to be performed to ensure the smooth operation of the processing teams, minimize downtime and overtime taking food safety imperatives into consideration.
• Supervises and identify training needs and supplier agreements to optimize skills set of all personnel.
• Ensures all processing staff follow safety rules and regulations as per organization’s food Safety management system.
• Reporting theft and dangers on the premises.
• Ensure that all staff is working according to safety regulations and insure the enforcement of food safety requirements.
• Controls over all inventory / WIP (Work-in-progress).
• Adherence to daily / weekly / monthly stock takes and investigation of any variances (Crates).
• Manage daily waste of all consumables like packaging material and brine.
• Management of Safety Health Environment and Quality (SHEQ).
• Guides team to ensure that all legislative standards are achieved and in time and action is taken where required to ensure that there are no areas of noncompliance).
• Responsible for health and safety with regards to all equipment to ensure a safe environment to operate and work on for all staff.
• Follows up on requirements for compliance ensuring that it is continuously maintained and adhered to.
• Measure and manage sustainability practices within area of responsibility.
• Maintain and implement Food safety standards.
• Demonstrate leadership skills, motivation and conflict resolution.
• Mentor and coach subordinates.
• Manage the performance of subordinates.
• Manage discipline in the workplace.
• Identify training and development needs for staff members.
• Give input into the recruitment and selection of staff members.
• Monitor overtime levels in the workplace and authorize as needed.
• Monitor costs by analyzing cost allocations, identifying discrepancies and implementing cost saving strategies.
• Range: The major costs include, but are not limited to:
  • Wages and overtime.m
  • Costs in the plant.
  • Repairs and Maintenance.
  • Operating costs.
• Analyze and report on monthly financial accounts.
• Compile annual budgets in conjunction with Line Reports and present to Abattoir Manager.
• Range: Communication and feedback include, but is not limited to:
  • Daily, weekly; monthly & quarterly reports.
  • Review meetings.
  • Forecast meetings.
• Ensure implementation of continuous improvements to improve both efficiencies in the plant.
• Identify cost saving initiatives without compromising services provided.
• Identify remedial actions whenever service levels are being compromised.
• Train and mentor, his team to improve performance / efficiencies / yields and optimize throughput and optimal product mix.
• Utilize skills matrix to assess capability gaps within the Processing teams and to develop a training plan in conjunction with HR development specialist to address skills gaps.
• Be available on call out and work on weekends or when necessary to ensure optimal performance of team and effective running of the Processing plant.
• Organize daily meetings and utilize information from all department to make management decisions on.
• Partners with HR to recruit staff who are technically capable and fit in with company culture to ensure that engineering team have the correct resources to maintain the facility.
• Any other duties as may be required by management.

Skills Required

• Advanced Microsoft office.
• Advanced Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate people, assess and develop employee skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to balance production and maintenance needs.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and listening ability.
• A strong ability to be adaptable and flexible.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work with teams and lead decision-making processes in a team environment.
• Highly motivated, results oriented, driven.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong EQ, leadership and motivational skills.
• Focused, hard-working, results-driven, self-starter.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• Good operational skills, but also strong strategic focus.
• Good computer skills.