Job Description

Overview:
Oversee and take full accountability for end-to-end production operations, ensuring the achievement of production targets, OTIF delivery within cost budgets, and effective leadership across Production, QC, Production Planning, and Maintenance.
Responsibilities:
Production management
? Manage, organise, control and supervise all aspects of the site in line with company policies and procedures
? Ensure the timely supply of quality products to customers
? Ensure that proper maintenance is carried out on equipment, utilities and manufacturing areas
Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Leadership
? Overall accountability for SHE performance, including safety culture, incident prevention, legal compliance, and visible safety leadership
? Drive safe systems of work and embed safety as a core production discipline
Risk management and compliance
? Ensure that production documentation is GMP and legislation-compliant, on time and reviewed prior to approval
? Implement/ support risk-based approaches for manufacturing operations and equipment
Quality and continuous improvement
? Oversee the development and implementation of, and adherence to, SOPs in the department and ensure GMP compliance
? Ensure the areas of the department meet hygiene and cleanliness standards and that equipment/ process validations are performed
? Ensure that products are produced and stored according to appropriate documentation to obtain required quality
? Support QA/ QC in quality investigations and represent the department during inspections and audits, as and when required
Inspection Readiness & Regulatory Interface
? Overall accountability for inspection readiness across all production areas
? Act as a key site representative during SAHPRA, FDA, and customer inspections
? Ensure timely closure and sustainability of production-related CAPAs
Operational Excellence & KPI Ownership
? Full ownership of operational KPIs including OPP, cost, yield, scrap, labour efficiency, and throughput
? Drive regular performance reviews, loss analysis, and corrective actions
? Take accountability for recovery plans where performance deviates from budget or operational plans Explore competitor activity, market trends and new initiatives
? Motivate, train and develop department heads and their direct reports
? Agree business plans and performance targets with department managers and monitor these, taking necessary corrective actions
People Capability, Succession & Workforce Stability
? Build sustainable production teams through talent development, succession planning, and capability uplift
? Manage industrial relations risks in collaboration with HR
? Drive employee engagement, attendance, and accountability within production teams
Organisational Support & Function Management
? Manage, organise, control and supervise the process of approved capital expenditure, ensuring financial, conceptual and phasing objectives are achieved in line with company policy
? Participate in the development and lead the implementation of the strategic vision and direction for business-critical functions across SA, as well as all related plans, policies and procedures
? Perform financial and human resources functions to ensure optimal management of the function and reporting units and leaders
? Manage collaboration and coordination between reporting units
? Maintain/ support positive customer engagements and problem resolution
? Manage the site within agreed budgets
Digital, Data & Systems Leadership
? Leverage production data, MES, KPIs, and dashboards to drive data-led decision-making
? Support digital initiatives that improve scheduling accuracy, OEE, and operational visibility
Change Leadership & Transformation
? Lead teams through change, restructuring, and operating model transitions
? Embed new ways of working, governance structures, and accountability post-change
Commercial & Customer Focus
? Understand commercial priorities and translate them into executable production plans
? Manage customer commitments, supply continuity, and escalation where delivery is at risk
Requirements:
Background/experience

• 10 years' related experience with strong manufacturing experience
• Managing a strategic production site (ideally in a pharmaceutical environment)
• Management of projects in an international context
• Proven leadership capability and managerial experience at a senior level
• Minimum of Bachelor's degree, ideally in Engineering

Specific job skills

• In-depth insight into pharmaceutical manufacturing and pharmaceutical standards/ compliance
• Deep understanding of quality, operations and logistics
• People and departmental management

Competencies

• Translating Strategy
• Interpreting and Internalising Information
• Offering Insights
• Making Decisions
• Managing Performance
• Customer Awareness

Aspen fully subscribes to the principles of Employment Equity and will make decisions in line with this ethos.
Closing date: 30 December 2025

Skills Required