Job Purpose

The Senior Factory Manager is responsible for leading end-to-end manufacturing operations of a high-volume soft drinks and bottled water facility. The role ensures safe, compliant, efficient, and cost-effective production while delivering world-class quality standards, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across processing, bottling, packaging, and warehousing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Operations Leadership

- Lead overall plant operations including beverage processing, syrup room, water treatment, filling, packaging, and dispatch.

- Achieve production targets for soft drinks (CSD/flavored juice) and bottled water across multiple SKUs and pack formats.

- Ensure optimal utilization of manpower, machinery, and utilities to maximize productivity and OEE.

- Drive operational stability, line efficiency, and throughput improvement.

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

- Ensure full compliance with food safety and quality systems.

- Maintain strict adherence to water quality standards, sanitation, and hygiene programs.

- Lead regulatory, customer, and certification audits; ensure timely closure of corrective and preventive actions.

- Oversee quality assurance, laboratory operations, and consumer complaint reduction.

Engineering, Maintenance & Utilities

- Oversee preventive and breakdown maintenance of high-speed bottling lines (PET).

- Manage critical utilities including water treatment, RO, ozone, UV, CIP systems, compressors, boilers, chillers, and refrigeration.

- Drive asset reliability, spare parts optimization, and maintenance cost control.

- Support capital projects, line upgrades, and plant expansions.

Cost Control & Budget Management

- Prepare and manage annual plant operating budgets.

- Monitor and reduce conversion cost, material losses, energy, and water consumption.

- Drive waste reduction initiatives (water loss, sugar loss, packaging waste).

- Track and improve financial KPIs including cost per case and yield.

People Leadership & Culture

- Lead and develop cross-functional teams (Production, Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, EHS).

- Build a strong performance culture focused on accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

- Ensure effective manpower planning, succession planning, and talent development.

- Maintain healthy industrial relations and workforce engagement.

Supply Chain & Inventory Management

- Coordinate with procurement, planning, and logistics teams to ensure uninterrupted operations.

- Maintain optimal inventory levels of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.

- Ensure on-time dispatch and warehouse efficiency.

Safety, Health & Environment (EHS)

- Ensure compliance with all statutory safety and environmental regulations.

- Drive zero-accident culture through safety programs and audits.

- Monitor water stewardship, effluent treatment, and sustainability initiatives.

Continuous Improvement & Digitalization

- Lead Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives across the plant.

- Implement automation, digitization, and Industry 4.0 practices.

- Drive data-based decision making and performance management.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Production volume vs. plan

- OEE, line efficiency, and downtime reduction

- Quality performance and consumer complaint rate

- Cost per case and waste reduction

- Audit scores and compliance status

- Safety metrics (LTIFR)

- Energy and water usage per liter produced

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Food Technology, or Industrial Engineering.

Experience

- 12-18 years of manufacturing experience in soft drinks and bottled water.

- Minimum 5-7 years in a senior leadership role managing large beverage plants.

- Strong exposure to high-speed PET lines.

- Experience in multinational FMCG or large-scale beverage operations in Africa preferred.

Key Skills & Competencies

- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills

- Deep understanding of beverage processing and bottling technologies

- Financial acumen and cost management expertise

- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills

- Knowledge of food safety, water quality, and regulatory requirements

- Change management and continuous improvement mindset