Our client is a leading berry producer, for an experienced, self-motivated, and target-driven

Packhouse Manager

. This

senior role

leads the

full packhouse operation-

people, process, and performance, to deliver world-class quality for both local and export markets.

Location: Hermanus

(Please note that accommodation is

NOT

provided for this position and nor will a housing benefit be provided)

Salary offered: 

Market related and negotiable (dependent on experience and suitability of the ideal candidate)

About the opportunityYou’ll own the day-to-day running of a high-throughput, labour-intensive soft-fruit packhouse. Your mandate: build a safe, disciplined, and data-driven operation that consistently meets customer specifications while developing a strong team and a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:
•

Operational leadership:

Run end-to-end packhouse operations (intake, grading, packing, labelling, cold chain, dispatch) and lead all packhouse staff and supervisors.
•

Quality & compliance:

Ensure product integrity and traceability; maintain documentation and SOPs; uphold standards required for local and export customers; prepare for and host audits.
•

Best-practice systems:

Implement and refine policies, workflows, and KPIs to drive accuracy, yield, and consistency (e.g., changeovers, line balancing, downtime control, waste reduction).
•

People management:

Recruit, train, schedule, and coach teams; build multi-skilled capability and a strong leadership bench; manage performance and labour relations constructively.
•

Health & safety:

Champion a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with legislative and site requirements.
•

Planning & reporting:

Convert harvest forecasts into executable pack plans; manage materials, inventory, and cold-store capacity; track throughput, giveaway, and cost KPIs with clear daily/weekly reporting.
•

Customer focus:

Ensure all customer and market specifications are met, on time and in full, for both local and export programs.

Success in this role looks like
• Consistent

OTIF

delivery against pack plans and customer specs.
• Audit-ready quality systems with robust traceability and documentation.
• Improved yields, reduced waste, and reliable daily KPI reporting.
• Engaged, well-trained teams and a stable leadership pipeline on shift.