Trade Kings Limited is a leading manufacturer of quality detergents soaps, household products, dairy products and confectionery located in the Lusaka Light Industrial Area. In its quest to improve service delivery, the company seeks to recruit qualified, highly motivated and goal-oriented professional to fill the following positions.

1. Production & Engineering Head – Maize Milling

Job Summary:

The Maize Mill Production and Engineering Head is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end production and engineering operations within the maize milling facility. This includes managing production efficiency, ensuring machinery and equipment reliability, maintaining product quality, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce costs. The role requires strong leadership to guide the production and engineering teams, ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Management:

• Develop and execute production plans to meet daily, weekly, and monthly targets while optimizing resources.
• Oversee the production process, ensuring adherence to quality standards and maintaining consistent product quality.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as yield, throughput, downtime, and efficiency, and initiate corrective actions to improve them.
• Collaborate with procurement and logistics teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials and packaging supplies.

2. Engineering and Maintenance:

• Lead the engineering team in maintaining and troubleshooting all equipment, including milling machines, conveyors, and auxiliary equipment.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance schedules to reduce downtime and improve equipment lifespan.
• Identify opportunities for equipment upgrades and replacements, coordinating capital expenditure projects with senior management.
• Manage utility and energy consumption to optimize operational costs.

3. Quality Assurance and Compliance:

• Work closely with the quality team to ensure product standards meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• Implement and monitor quality control processes, including sampling and testing of products.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, and environmental regulations, maintaining a safe workplace for all employees.
• Drive compliance with food safety protocols, such as HACCP, ISO, and GMP standards.

4. Continuous Improvement and Innovation:

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.
• Analyze production and engineering processes to identify bottlenecks, implementing solutions to optimize performance.
• Foster innovation by encouraging team members to suggest and implement process improvements.
• Stay updated on industry trends and technological advancements to enhance production capabilities.

5. Team Leadership and Development:

• Recruit, train, and develop production and engineering team members to build a skilled and motivated workforce.
• Set performance goals, conduct regular performance evaluations, and provide feedback to enhance team capabilities.
• Foster a positive work environment by promoting teamwork, communication, and accountability.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the production and engineering teams as needed.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial) or a related field; a Master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in milling operations, with at least 5 years in a managerial role overseeing production and engineering functions.
• Demonstrates a high level of integrity, a strong depth of knowledge, provides a wide range leadership roles in various projects.
• Ability to listen well, comprehend and analyze situations; excellent critical thinking and decision making skills.
• Must be able to troubleshoot issues and solve problems.
• Excellent managerial skills and ability to motivate and inspire lower-level staff to achieve optimal performance.
• Strong team player with an ability to be hands on when necessary.
• Be willing to work off shifts and weekends as required to support manufacturing.
• Should be Disciplined with a structured approach towards work, with good attention to detail to ensure high quality standards.
• Embodies a strong work ethic.