The Packing Manager Assistant supports the Packing Manager in overseeing cheese packaging operations. As a member of the Food Safety team, you will help maintain the Food Safety Management System, participate in HACCP studies and reviews, and ensure compliance with legal requirements, GMP, and SOPs. You understand that strong food safety performance saves costs, produces safe products, and supports continuous improvement—while non-compliance risks unsafe products, recalls, delays, rework, and rising costs.
Key Responsibilities
• Plan packing teams and schedule cheese packing based on packing sheets.
• Oversee all cheese packaging areas, ensuring cheeses meet specifications.
• Verify correct packaging materials, reject poor quality, and confirm accurate pricing, sell-by, and best-before dates.
• Report deviations or out-of-spec issues to the QA Manager and Cheesemakers; release cheese for packaging with Cheesemakers' consent.
• Manage cleaning, housekeeping, and maintenance reporting for packaging areas and equipment.
• Lead and supervise packaging staff, including recruitment, training, shift scheduling, and performance evaluation.
• Monitor daily packaging line operations to meet production targets.
• Liaise with vendors to source materials, negotiate costs, and manage inventory.
• Identify process inefficiencies, recommend optimizations to reduce waste and costs.
• Assist in developing new packaging solutions, from prototyping and testing to implementation.
Required Skills and Qualifications
• 2–5 years' experience in packaging, manufacturing, or FMCG environments.
• Knowledge of ERP systems (e.g., SYSPRO) and packaging design software.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), HACCP, and regulations like FDA or environmental standards.
• Strong analytical problem-solving, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure setting.
• Excellent team leadership and vendor management skills.
To apply for this position please send your CV to zach@konnekt.net.za