Packaging Team Leader

Job Description :

Position- PACKAGING TEAM LEADER

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Department: Packaging
Reports to: Packaging Manager
Function: Manufacturing / Operations
Shifts- Rotational (Morning/Afternoon/Night)- 40-45 Hours in a week

About the Function: 

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world.

With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a sophisticated, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships.

It’s fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers’ hands, you’ll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

1. Job Purpose

The Packaging Team Leader is responsible for leading and handling the day-to-day packaging operations across assigned shifts, ensuring that production targets are achieved safely, efficiently, and consistently within established quality standards.

The role is accountable for developing a high-performing team, driving operational excellence, ensuring compliance with quality, safety, and environmental requirements, and embedding Manufacturing Excellence principles into daily operations.

A key responsibility will be establishing, implementing, and sustaining the operational systems required for a new packaging line. This includes coordinating projects from initiation to completion, developing standard operating procedures, building operational capability, and ensuring that the line, equipment, processes, and people are fully prepared to deliver sustainable performance.

2. Key Roles and Responsibilities

Shift Management and Operational Performance

• Lead and manage packaging operations during assigned shifts, ensuring effective execution of the production plan.

• Ensure production targets are achieved in terms of volume, efficiency, waste, quality, and cost.

• Supervise and manage key performance indicators, including OEE, line efficiency, production losses, downtime, waste, and material utilization.

• Identify performance gaps, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Ensure effective shift handovers, communication, and coordination between production, engineering, quality, and other supporting departments.

• Proactively manage operational constraints and ensure timely partner concern and resolution of issues.

• Ensure optimal utilization of people, equipment, and resources.

Manufacturing Excellence and Continuous Improvement

• Drive the implementation and sustainability of Manufacturing Excellence principles and practices.

• Apply methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing, TPM, 5S, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving.

• Establish and maintain effective daily management systems, including shift meetings, performance evaluations, tier meetings, indictor important metric tracking.

• Drive operator ownership, equipment care, and autonomous maintenance practices.

• Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies, losses, and waste through structured improvement initiatives.

• Facilitate root cause analysis using appropriate problem-solving tools, including 5 Whys, Fishbone, and other structured methodologies.

• Develop and sustain standardised ways of working to ensure consistency across all shifts.

• Build a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational ownership.

Quality Management and Compliance

• Ensure all packaging operations align with established quality standards, procedures, and product specifications.

• Maintain and implement quality management systems and relevant food safety requirements.

• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and systems, including FSSC 22000, HACCP, GMP, and internal quality management requirements.

• Ensure process controls, quality checks, inspections, and verification activities are efficiently delivered.

• Drive quality awareness and accountability among team members.

• Manage non-conformances, customer complaints, product deviations, and corrective actions.

• Ensure effective strategy and alignment to standard operating procedures and work instructions.

• Prepare teams and processes for internal and external audits and ensure audit findings are effectively closed out.

Safety, Health and Environmental Management

• Ensure a safe working environment across all packaging operations.

• Drive compliance with occupational health and safety legislation, company safety standards, and internal safety management systems.

• Ensure effective strategy of risk assessments, safe work procedures, permit-to-work systems, and safety inspections.

• Identify and proactively manage workplace hazards and unsafe behaviors.

• Lead safety conversations, toolbox talks, and shift safety engagements.

• Ensure incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions are reported, investigated, and addressed.

• Drive corrective actions and ensure that safety improvements are sustained.

• Promote a proactive safety culture where every employee takes ownership of their own safety and that of others.

New Line Development, Implementation and Capability Building

A critical responsibility of this role will be supporting the establishment and operational readiness of a new packaging line.

The successful candidate must be capable of building the operational systems and developing the people required to ensure the new line achieves its intended performance.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate new-line projects from initiation through implementation, commissioning, handover, and operational stabilization.

• Develop and implement operational procedures, standard operating instructions, quality controls, safety systems, and daily management routines for the new line.

• Participate in equipment commissioning, testing, performance trials, and operational acceptance.

• Work closely with engineering, quality, safety, technical, and project teams to ensure all operational requirements are incorporated.

• Develop and implement training matrices, skills assessments, and competency development plans for operators and team members.

• Ensure employees are adequately trained and assessed before operating new equipment and processes.

• Establish equipment care standards, autonomous maintenance routines, planned maintenance interfaces, and operational inspection requirements.

• Define and establish critical process parameters, quality checkpoints, and operational control standards.

• Develop line performance monitoring systems, including OEE, downtime tracking, waste monitoring, and production reporting.

• Identify capability gaps and coordinate interventions to close them.

• Ensure the new line is operationally ready, with competent people, approved procedures, established controls, and sustainable management systems.

• Drive performance improvement during the ramp-up phase until the line achieves stable and sustainable operational performance.

Project Management and Execution

• Plan, coordinate, and implement operational improvement projects from feasibility to completion.

• Develop project plans, timelines, achievements, resource requirements, and work.

• Coordinate multi-functional teams and ensure alignment between stakeholders.

• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation plans.

• Ensure projects are delivered within agreed timelines, budgets, quality, and safety requirements.

• Provide regular progress updates and call out challenges requiring management intervention.

• Ensure effective project handovers and that completed projects deliver their intended operational benefits.

People Leadership and Development

• Lead, coach, and develop packaging operators and other team members.

• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability within the shift.

• Conduct performance discussions, skills assessments, and individual development engagements.

• Identify talent and develop succession and skills development plans.

• Address performance gaps through coaching, training, and appropriate performance management processes.

• Build a culture of collaboration, ownership, rigor, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure effective communication and alignment across all shifts.

• Develop a capable team that can operate independently while consistently delivering business objectives.

3. Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma or Degree experience in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Management, Operations Management, or a related field.

• Minimum 3–5 years shown experience in a manufacturing or FMCG production environment.

• Demonstrated experience in packaging operations and shift management.

• Strong working knowledge of Manufacturing Excellence methodologies and systems.

• Experience implementing and sustaining quality and safety management systems.

• Shown experience coordinating projects and delivering improvement initiatives.

• Experience in equipment commissioning, production line implementation, or operational readiness would be highly effective.

• Demonstrated experience in people leadership and performance management.

4. Technical Knowledge and Competencies

The successful candidate must demonstrate strong validated understanding and practical application of:

Manufacturing Excellence

• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement.

• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).

• OEE and loss analysis.

• 5S and workplace organisation.

• Autonomous Maintenance.

• Root Cause Analysis and structured problem-solving.

• Standardised Work and Daily Management Systems.

• Waste and cost optimisation.

Quality Management

• FSSC 22000 and HACCP principles.

• GMP and quality assurance systems.

• Quality risk assessments and process controls.

• Non-conformance management and corrective actions.

• Audit preparation and compliance management.

Safety Management

• Occupational Health and Safety management systems.

• Risk assessments and hazard identification.

• Incident investigation and corrective action management.

• Permit-to-work and safe operating procedures.

• Safety leadership and behavioural safety.

Project and Operational Management

• Project planning and execution.

• Equipment commissioning and operational handover.

• Training and competency development.

• Production planning and resource optimization.

• Performance monitoring and reporting.

5. Key Performance Indicators (important metrics)

Performance will be measured against the following areas:

• Safety: Zero harm ambition, safety compliance, incident reduction, and closure of safety actions.

• Quality: Product quality compliance, reduction in quality deviations, and audit performance.

• Efficiency: Achievement of production targets, OEE, line efficiency, and downtime reduction.

• Waste: Reduction in material losses, product waste, and operational inefficiencies.

• People: Team competency, training completion, employee engagement, and performance management.

• Manufacturing Excellence: Implementation and sustainability of daily management systems, TPM, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• New Line Readiness: Successful development and implementation of operational systems, trained personnel, and established process controls.

• Project Delivery: Completion of assigned projects within agreed timelines, scope, budget, and expected benefits.

6. Key Personnel Attributes

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.

• High levels of accountability, ownership, and initiative.

• Analytical and structured approach to problem-solving.

• Ability to translate business objectives into practical operational actions.

• Strong planning, coordination, and project management skills.

• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple departments.

• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Passionate about developing people and building high-performing teams.

• A continuous improvement outlook with a strong focus on sustainable results.

7. Expected Outcomes

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Deliver consistent and sustainable shift performance.

• Establish a well-adapted, accountable, and high-performing packaging team.

• Ensure full compliance with quality, safety, and operational requirements.

• Embed Manufacturing Excellence practices into daily operations.

• Successfully develop and implement the systems required to operate the new packaging line.

• Build a competent workforce capable of operating, maintaining, and sustaining the new line.

• Drive continuous improvement and deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, safety, and cost.

Working with Us  

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.  

We recognize and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:   

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.  

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.  

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.  

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity.  

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you gather this information when you submit your application.  

Recruitment Scam Warning

Protecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money.

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Isipingo

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2026-11-13