Job Description

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Job Advert Summary

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and driven

Technical Manager

to oversee national foam production planning to ensure alignment with SABS and ISO 9001 quality standards across all branches. Drive automation and efficiency initiatives to enhance consistency, reduce waste, and optimize production runs. Standardize foam grades, colour coding, and plant conditioning systems to ensure product uniformity and reliability nationwide. Collaborate with clients to develop customized foam and colour solutions that strengthen brand differentiation and market growth.

About MOVA (Pty) Ltd:

MOVA's products ranges from the automotive industry to home furnishings. MOVA's versatile foam solutions meet diverse needs, providing comfort, durability, and reliability. By continuously investing in research and development, MOVA sets the industry standard and first to market with new products.



Our mission is to improve everyday lives through the power of ingenuity, adaptability, potential, and capability of polyurethane foam as well as deliver products providing superior comfort, safety, and performance - while championing sustainability.

MOVA's guiding values: Innovation, Growth, Teamwork, Accountability, Quality, and Customer Satisfaction, ensure that Vitafoam remains a leader in its field.

Why Join Us:

Be part of a company that is an

industry leader in foam technology

. Work with passionate individuals who strive for excellence every day. Competitive compensation and benefits. Opportunity to make a tangible impact in a values-driven organisation.
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Minimum Requirements

Degree in Chemical Engineering At least 5 years' experience in technical planning role (preferably in foam manufacturing) Experienced in developing new formulations and products that meet customer requirements in Polyurethane formulations Solid understanding of production process control, quality and laboratory management Understanding of SANS 9001:2015 standard, ISO 9001:2015 Valid driver's license with own reliable vehicle Willing to travel (nationwide when needed) Dynamic & Analytical skills (Information processing) Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills Excellent organizational and follow-up skills Leadership and people management skills Competent in problem solving (problem analysis), planning and decision making. Focused and target driven with a positive can-do attitude. Anticipates and overcomes obstacles.
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Duties & Responsibilities

Work hand-in-hand with the National Foaming Manager to achieve the following responsibilities:

1. Foaming Standards

Ensure all foam grades comply with SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) specifications across all branches. Align quality systems with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards to strengthen credibility in both local and export markets. Implement Corrective and Preventive Action Reports (CPAR) with structured root-cause analysis for deviations. Introduce a formal concession process for managing non-conforming materials and products. Retain production samples for traceability and future reference. Conduct field performance checks to compare lab results with real-world usage. Introduce automation in production to reduce human error, improve repeatability, and ensure consistent quality All branches to align on common foam grades, reducing duplication and enabling inter-facility supply flexibility. Greater alignment across JHB, DBN, and CPT. Reduced production redundancy. Standardise incoming raw material testing (TDI, MDI, Polyols, Additives) to ensure consistency

2. Centralised Planning

Standardise production processes, QA testing methods, and foaming formulations across all three branches. Introduce national benchmarks for productivity, yield, scrap reduction, and quality scores. Create a centralized technical support and R&D hub to share best practices and solve formulation challenges across sites. Performance & Benchmarking- Implement monthly inter-branch performance reviews to compare KPIs (output, quality, scrap rates, downtime). Develop a national certification and audit program to ensure compliance with SABS specifications and company standards. Encourage cross-site training programs so operators and technicians are skilled in standardised practices. Manage stock-take data to feed into central buying decisions for chemicals, ensuring better price negotiations and avoiding overstocking. Allow central planning team to optimise deliveries (bulk shipments vs. smaller replenishments) across all branches. Identify slow-moving grades or chemicals and flag for review with R&D and Sales. Weekly alignment meetings between Production, Procurement, Quality, Sales, and Logistics to review stock levels, foaming schedules, and customer demand

3. Quality Management

Continuous monitoring of foam density, hardness, cell structure, compression set, and resilience during each production run. Use advanced laboratory equipment (tensile testers, compression machines, flammability testers) for validation. Reinforce a quality-first mindset at all levels of manufacturing. Provide ongoing staff training on SABS requirements, safety, and quality inspection techniques. Encourage continuous improvement through employee feedback and cross-branch benchmarking Ensure quality standards directly support comfort, durability, and safety expectations of end users. Minimize customer complaints and warranty claims through proactive defect prevention. Build stronger client relationships by offering full traceability and certification reports with deliveries Oversee routine batch testing to confirm compliance before foam release to customers.

4. R&D and Innovation

Quarterly cross-branch review meetings to share best practices, lessons learned, and communication challenges. Use these sessions to standardize and refine processes across all sites Continuously improve foam durability, comfort, density, and resilience through R&D and innovation. Develop eco-friendly foam formulations with reduced VOC emissions and sustainable raw materials. Benchmark against international standards (ISO, ASTM) to remain globally competitive. Partner with mattress manufacturers, furniture companies, and automotive clients to deliver custom foam solutions. Build a continuous innovation pipeline to identify, test, and commercialise new polyurethane foam products. * Balance short-term product improvements (cost reduction, quality stability) with long-term innovations (sustainability, specialty foams).