Location: based close to Harare.
Our client seeks an experienced and disciplined Factory Manager to take full operational responsibility for their food processing facility.
This role is central to ensuring consistent production, uncompromising food safety standards, efficient stock and milk flow management, and strong team discipline.
The successful candidate will be hands-on, highly organised, quality-driven, and comfortable managing systems, people, and daily operational pressure.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Full oversight of daily factory operations, production planning, and workflow execution
- Enforcing strict hygiene, food safety, cold-chain, and quality control standards
- Managing milk intake, usage, forecasting, and loss control
- Stock management across raw materials, packaging, consumables, bottles, crates, and finished goods
- Ensuring accurate SAP and Excel reporting, stock takes, and reconciliations
- Coordinating milk collections, deliveries, and loading with quality spot checks
- Monitoring equipment performance, maintenance schedules, and asset registers
- Managing factory staff attendance, task allocation, discipline, and training
- Overseeing laboratory testing, FIFO, best-before dates, and product presentation
- Ensuring compliance with SOPs and developing new SOPs where required
- Monitoring utilities including cold rooms, generators, fuel usage, water, and power outages
- Liaising daily with senior management and escalating risks or issues immediately
- Maintaining clear communication through operational WhatsApp groups and reporting channels
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Relevant qualification in food or milk manufacturing processes.
- Experience in managing a food or dairy processing facility an added Bonus
- Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene, cold-chain, and quality systems
- Excellent operational planning and stock control capability
- Confident leadership with the ability to enforce discipline and standards
- High attention to detail with strong reporting and record-keeping skills
- Comfortable working with SAP, Excel, and digital communication tools
- Ability to work under pressure and make sound operational decisions.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Highly organised, structured, and process-driven
- Firm but fair people manager with strong accountability
- Quality-focused with pride in product excellence
- Proactive problem-solver with a continuous improvement mindset
- Trustworthy, reliable, and confident in a leadership role
WHAT WE OFFER
- A senior operational role with real authority and responsibility
- A fast-paced environment with scope to improve and optimise systems
- Direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making
- House on the farm with lights and water.
Salary negotiable based on skills offered and experience – send CV to Colin Roberts