Factory Manager – Dairy/Food Processing

About the role

The Factory Manager will lead all aspects of a dairy and food‑processing plant in Zambia, overseeing production, engineering, quality, planning and HSE functions. This senior position is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient and cost‑effective operations while meeting strict food‑safety standards.

Key responsibilities

• Direct overall factory operations, including production, engineering, quality, planning and health‑safety‑environment (HSE) activities.
• Manage aseptic processing lines and Tetra Pak packaging equipment.
• Drive production efficiency, OEE, productivity, yield improvement and cost optimisation.
• Control factory budgets, operational planning and cost‑control measures.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, FSSC 22000, GMP and other food‑safety regulations.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen and continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Motivate and develop teams to achieve operational KPIs and business targets.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Technology or Manufacturing.
• 10+ years of experience in dairy, food, beverage or FMCG manufacturing.
• Proven senior leadership experience in a plant or factory environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, quality, maintenance, cost control and people management.

Required skills

• Aseptic processing
• Tetra Pak technology
• HACCP
• FSSC 22000
• GMP
• Lean Manufacturing
• TPM (Total Productive Maintenance)
• Kaizen
• OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)