Factory Manager – Feed Milling

Sheer Logic Management Consultants (SLMC) is a limited liability company established in 1997, focused on providing Human Resource consultancy and training services to various private and public industries and economic sectors.

This role involves providing strategic and operational leadership for a manufacturing plant, specifically in feed milling. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of plant operations, ensuring efficiency, profitability, and adherence to quality and safety standards. This includes managing production processes, financial resources, equipment maintenance, and leading a high-performing team. The position requires a strong focus on continuous improvement and compliance with regulatory requirements.

1. Provide overall leadership and accountability for the safe, efficient, and profitable operation of the plant.
2. Drive the achievement of production targets, operating profit, and EBIT contributions.
3. Develop, manage, and control annual operating (OPEX) and capital (CAPEX) budgets.
4. Monitor production costs per metric tonne and implement cost optimization initiatives.
5. Identify opportunities to improve labor productivity, raw material utilization, energy efficiency, and overall operational costs.
6. Lead plant-level Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to align production with procurement, inventory levels, and customer demand.
7. Ensure effective production planning and maximum utilization of plant capacity.
8. Collaborate with Procurement and Commercial teams to ensure raw material availability and timely customer order fulfillment.
9. Optimize inventory levels and minimize obsolete and slow-moving stock.
10. Establish and monitor plant performance dashboards and operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
11. Conduct regular performance reviews and implement corrective actions to address production losses, downtime, quality deviations, and cost overruns.
12. Drive continuous improvement initiatives using methodologies like Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
13. Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), production yield, waste reduction, and labor productivity.
14. Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
15. Ensure equipment reliability and optimal plant performance.
16. Monitor equipment performance using indicators such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR).
17. Develop long-term asset replacement and lifecycle management plans.
18. Ensure compliance with applicable statutory, regulatory, environmental, health, and safety requirements.
19. Oversee the implementation and maintenance of Food Safety Management Systems, including ISO
20. Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements specific to feed milling operations.
21. Lead operational risk assessments, emergency preparedness, and business continuity initiatives.
22. Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, and environmental sustainability.
23. Build and lead high-performing plant teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
24. Coach and develop departmental leaders and establish succession plans for critical positions.
25. Build effective working relationships with suppliers, customers, contractors, regulators, and internal stakeholders.
26. Represent the plant during customer audits and regulatory inspections.

1. Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, or a related field.
2. Have a minimum of 8 years of experience in production management and plant operations, with at least 4 years at a senior management level.
3. Demonstrate strong and mandatory experience in feed milling operations, including practical exposure to milling processes, equipment, and plant operations.
4. Exhibit a good understanding of statutory and regulatory requirements governing feed milling operations.
5. Show demonstrable knowledge and practical application of Food Safety Management Systems, particularly ISO
6. Possess a strong understanding of production planning, control, and supply chain operations.
7. Have experience using ERP systems for production planning and control; knowledge of SAP Production Module is an added advantage.
8. Demonstrate a good understanding of financial management, budgeting, cost control, and plant profitability.
9. Possess proven experience in implementing continuous improvement methodologies.
10. Be proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
11. Exhibit strategic and operational leadership capabilities.
12. Possess strong financial and commercial acumen.
13. Demonstrate expertise in production planning and operational excellence.
14. Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
15. Be skilled in asset and resource optimization.
16. Have strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
17. Demonstrate capabilities in people leadership and performance management.
18. Possess a results-oriented approach with a strong focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.