Fresh Produce Specialist GM (Mtunzini)

SUMMARY:
Our client is looking  for a Fresh Produce Specialist General Manager ideally  with retail exposure to join their team.

Purpose of Job:

Oversee all operational aspects with the food manufacturing and fresh produce aggregation and distribution environment. Responsible for driving revenue growth and operational excellence, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and implementing strategies to optimize production efficiency and profitability. Additionally, to deliver on the mission of increasing smallholder access to markets and assist in building a high-performing and positive company culture.

Location: Mtuzini  0n the Northcoast of KZN

POSITION INFO:
Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in manufacturing/ production or a Business-Related Degree, preferably with a focus on FMCG food technology and manufacturing.
• Additional advantage with further technical or commercial qualifications.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in managing a business in the FMCG food manufacturing sector.
• Proven track record of implementing world-class manufacturing practices.
• Proficiency in both English with further proficiency in isiZulu/isiXhosa being advantageous.
• Drivers License

Skills and other attributes

• A hands-on leadership approach, demonstrating firmness and high-performance standards.
• Ability to work independently, take personal initiative, and multi-tasking including strong facilitation skills and in an ever-changing dynamic operational environment
• Ability to coach others and work in a team environment with experience in conducting training.

Area of Responsibility:

Market engagement
Leading in the engagement of markets to identify demand, new opportunities and to promote existing product range

Supply agreements
Securing and servicing supply agreements for both fresh produce and processed goods.

Customer management
Developing and maintaining good customer relationships.

Customer database
Maintaining a comprehensive and up-to-date database of all customers and engagements.

Consistency of supply
Developing and maintaining systems to ensure that there is always an availability of product to timeously meet supply agreements.

Farm Store
Developing and maintaining systems that ensure effective and profitable operation of the Farm Store

Stock management
Ensuring that there is always sufficient stock for retail and processing as well as ensuring that proper and safe storage thereof

Food processing
The processing of food products of the highest quality in response to market demand.

Factory management
Managing and maintaining the food processing facility, infrastructure and equipment

Quality control
Developing and maintaining stringent quality management systems for all food aggregation and processing.

Fresh produce distribution centre
Development and implementation of operational systems for the Centre's fresh produce distribution centre as well as managing and maintaining the facility, equipment and infrastructure.

Food safety and traceability
Ensuring that all food safety and traceability systems are properly implemented and adhered to as per ISO 22 000 and LocalG.A.P. certifications

Production planning
Informing and coordinating the development of production plans with the Supply Chain and ZASC Divisions.

Interim areas of responsibility include:

• Catering
• The provision of high-quality and client appropriate catering services at the Centre
• Kitchen facilities management
• Managing and maintaining the Centre's dedicated kitchen facilities, equipment and infrastructure.
• Accommodation: housekeeping
• Developing and implementing systems to ensuring that the Centre's accommodation units are properly cleaned and maintained.
• Accommodation: reservations
• Developing and maintaining an effective system for the booking and reservation of accommodation at the Centre.

The General Manager is expected to work in close coordination with the Supply Chain Manager and Centre Manager particularly regards to ensuring the consistent supply of high-quality products into markets.

The GM will hold an integral role and as such will be expected to share knowledge, lessons and expertise across the team.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Ensuring the above outlined areas of responsibility are properly addressed, and systems put in place to support their implementation.
2. Oversee implementation of company's manufacturing and sourcing strategies and plans to achieve production targets and growth of market share
3. Devise long-term plans to achieve growth and evolution
4. Develop and implements growth strategies
5. Manage the manufacturing and fresh produce distribution operating models and workflow implementation and adherence within the facility
6. Set guidelines, design systems and determine procedures and production quality criteria to be implemented in the factory
7. Mitigate and ensure correction of manufacturing and fresh produce aggregation risks
8. Manage the performance of manufacturing & fresh produce aggregation & distribution areas
9. Monitor and report on performance against objectives and key performance indicators
10. Oversee adherence to quality procedures, standards and specifications that are in line with legal and any additional customer requirements
11. Ensure that manufacturing & Fresh produce aggregation processes comply with standards at both national and international level and regulations and set parameters for adherence including any required changes as per the law
12. Implement changes and improvements in performance/quality and deals with all deviations and non-compliance
13. Oversee quality assurance and adherence to legislation of final goods
14. Assess product lines and lead business review process by assessing sales information, taste profile of customers market size and opportunities
15. Drive new product lines based on detailed assessment of data and inform the business of new requirements and lines
16. Engage with relevant stakeholders to investigate other product opportunities that would support purpose driven business and commercial targets
17. Build partnerships with other key manufacturers & fresh produce distributors to investigate opportunities for new lines
18. Devise business cases for potential opportunities to expand lines to request capital investment from the board
19. Engage with regional leads in regions to investigate requirements and growth opportunities
20. Manage the development, implementation and review of CFN budgets
21. Monitor adherence to project budgets and propose cost-saving measures where appropriate
22. Manage all costs including agency fees, production and distribution costs
23. Conduct post-campaign analysis and reporting
24. Adhere to all organisation policies and procedures
25. Interact and co-operate with all members of the organisation, its suppliers and beneficiaries
26. Liaise with the Marketing unit to produce marketing materials and communications

 

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