Job Description

National Brands Limited

(NBL), a proudly South African company and a division of AVI Limited, has been at the heart of the nation's biscuit tradition for over 170 years. Our world-class facilities in Isando and Westmead, manufacture some of the country's most iconic and loved products - from the nostalgic Bakers Tennis and Blue Label Marie biscuits to the ever-popular Choice Assorted.


We're not just making biscuits - we're creating moments of joy that bring families and communities together. At NBL, we combine tradition with innovation, excellence with humility, and purpose with passion.


If you're a

seasoned manufacturing leader

with deep experience in food production, passionate about people, operational excellence, and innovation - this is your opportunity to make your mark.

The Role:

As the

Operations Executive

, you will take full accountability for one of our manufacturing sites, leading the plant's leadership team to deliver on strategic objectives across safety, quality, cost, people, and performance. You will act as a key enabler of NBL's broader supply chain strategy and play a critical role in driving the next chapter of sustainable growth and innovation in the organisation.


This is not just a management role - it's a leadership mandate. We are looking for a

transformational leader

who can inspire teams, challenge the status quo, and deliver tangible business results, all while upholding the integrity and values of our beloved brands.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide strategic leadership across manufacturing operations, ensuring alignment with business goals, values, and long-term objectives. Oversee end-to-end site performance, including production, safety, quality assurance, maintenance, and cost control. Champion a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and innovation through world-class manufacturing practices (WCM, Lean, Six Sigma). Ensure robust risk management, food safety, and compliance standards are embedded and sustained. Lead and develop a strong, engaged, and capable site leadership team, fostering a high-performance culture. Drive efficiency, flexibility, and agility in response to a fast-paced, demand-driven FMCG environment. Oversee the successful implementation of capital projects, sustainability initiatives, and technological upgrades. Serve as a key contributor to the broader supply chain executive team, shaping cross-functional priorities and strategy.

What You Bring:

A minimum

10 years of progressive leadership experience

in food manufacturing or a related FMCG environment, ideally in complex, high-volume operations. Demonstrated experience in

leading large-scale factory operations

, with a track record of delivering sustained improvements in performance, cost, quality, and team engagement. Deep understanding of

processing, high-speed packaging

, and production planning systems. Strong grasp of

industrial relations

and experience managing within a unionised workforce. Proficiency in applying

regulatory, safety, and quality compliance

Excellent cross-functional business acumen, with the ability to collaborate effectively with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, HR, R&D, Marketing, and Finance.

Qualifications:

A

bachelor's degree in engineering

(Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical) or

Food Sciences

is essential. A

business-related post-graduate qualification (e.g. MBA, MBL, or Supply Chain Leadership)

is highly advantageous.

What Sets You Apart:

Visionary leadership with strong operational discipline. A collaborative and empowering leadership style - "firm but fair". High emotional intelligence and the ability to inspire, influence, and develop others. Strategic thinking with the ability to execute flawlessly under pressure. Courage to innovate, challenge legacy thinking, and drive cultural change.

Why NBL?

When you join National Brands, you become part of a purpose-driven organisation that values trust, excellence, innovation, and long-term impact. We don't just produce biscuits - we produce moments of joy, and we do so by investing in

our people

and

our processes

.


If you're looking for a role that will stretch, inspire, and reward you - and where you can see the results of your work on shelves across South Africa - then NBL is where you belong.