General Manager Operations
Mining/Minerals/Metals ~ Manufacturing
Durban – Kwa Zulu Natal – South Africa
A start-up industrial operation is seeking a hands-on General Manager, Operations with deep production-plant expertise, to take full accountability for site performance, safety, compliance, and profitability. This role is production-led, not people-led, and requires proven delivery in high-output, regulated environments.
You will come from the Heavy processing, minerals, or cement industry, with extensive experience in processing plants and production scheduling, and a demonstrable track record of stabilising, scaling, and optimising operations in early-stage or ramp-up conditions.
This role reports directly to the CEO and carries full site accountability across production, maintenance, supply chain, labour, safety, quality, environmental compliance and financial performance. Only candidates with non-negotiable, hands-on production-plant leadership experience will be considered.
Key requirements
- Tertiary qualification in Operations / Production Management or Engineering (with post-graduate Operations qualification)
- 5–10 years of senior production plant experience in minerals, cement or heavy processing
- Minimum 2 years general management accountability (P&L, budgets, assets)
- Strong production planning, raw material offtake and supply chain control experience
- Experience operating in regulated environments (H&S, environmental, NNR)
- Proven ERP exposure (Sage preferred) and solid budgeting capability
- Strong warehousing, logistics and third-party contractor management expertise